Trying times for basement sides as NSL nears return
By Barry Silah
With nine days left before the second installment of the Betika Super League resumes, a number of coaches are feeling the heat as their clubs may need miracles to survive.
St Joseph’s Youth, Administration Police, APS Bomet and Modern Coast Rangers are in danger after a poor first leg.
Bottom side St Joseph’s Youth from Nakuru County are the worst of the lot, having only picked a paltry nine points in 18 matches and are at the bottom of the 19-team table.
With only two wins in the opening half of the season, coach Nicholas Mbogo is a worried man as his side has a 22-goal difference, having scored only 19 and conceded a mammoth 41.
St Joseph’s have been doing just enough to escape relegation in the recent past but this season might be a tall order given financial constraints have also hampered their campaign.
“It does not look good currently but we have to stay positive. We have our problems but the season is not over yet,” said Mbogo.
The disciplined forces pair of Administration Police (AP) and APS Bomet are the other sides in a spot of bother.
Samson Gitau of AP and his APS Bomet counterpart Sebastian Owino are staring at relegation as their teams are separated by two points at the wrong end of the table.
AP, sixth last season, are swimming in unfamiliar waters as they are 18th with 13 points while APS Bomet are 17th on 15 points same as coastal side Modern Coast Rangers who are also feeling the heat.
“It has been disappointing so far and we must try and address our challenges quickly. Some administrative concerns have been forthcoming but we are trying to fix everything,” Gitau told People Sport.
Modern Coast’s Mohamed Mchula may have contributed to Wazito FC’s promotion to the Premier League but it has proved difficult in Mombasa and hill will have to quickly find a winning formula in the second leg.
