League giants Gor, AFC Leopards occupy top spot in the league
For the first time after a period spanning over two decades, the country most celebrated football teams Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards find themselves occupying the top two positions in the race for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) top honours.
After the fifth round of action at the weekend, Gor top the charts followed by Leopards with the statistics rekindling memories of the 80’s when the two were perennial leaders from the onset with either of them finally being coronated champion.
Despite their troubles emanating from a dispute with the management over unpaid two-month wages, Leopards did the unthinkable by beating Sony Sugar 2-0 at the latter’s backyard in Awendo.
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Last week, Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda told a section of the press that the players had indeed not been paid for the duration but emphatically affirmed that this will be done soon.
“It is true we have not paid our players for the last two months and we do not have an imminent solution. However, we have been knocking several doors for a solution and all I can say is that the response is positive,” said Shikanda.
Following the results in Awendo, Leopards catapulted to the second position though they will have to produce more quality to disentangle themselves with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Tusker with each of these teams having raked in seven points thus far in the league.
As Leopards defied odds, their perennial nemesis Gor did themselves proud, albeit with a late goal, to sink stubborn Zoo FC 1-0 at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, a result which saw the Green Army stretch their leadership to 12 points.
Besides Gor and Leopards, another team which deserves accolades for reaping maximum points away is Kariobangi Sharks who inflicted more misery on basement side Chemelil Sugar by dispatching them 2-0 at the latter’s home turf.
Before the outing, Sharks, who are placed 12th with six points, were smarting from a disappointing barren draw with Mathare United in Machakos and the success will no doubt give William Muluya’s charges confidence going forward as the league gathers momentum.
In the meantime, draws “specialists’ Mathare yet again shared the spoils, this time in a 2-2 stalemate with Wazito, although the team’s coach Salim Ali was contended with the result.
“It’s unfortunate that we have been dropping points but I was very happy for the team against Wazito.
I was particularly glad for the team to have held onto their own against strong opponents but what I can say is that a haul of maximum points will come sooner rather than later,” said Ali.
