Vihiga United coach Mururi eyes victory in all remaining fixtures

“We are not out yet and shall fight to the bitter end in our quest to survive relegation in the top flight league.”

This was the explicit message that was delivered yesterday by Vihiga United coach Mike Mururi despite the team remaining with two diceymatches before the Betking 2020/21 season folds.

“You can take this to the bank; we are going to fight to the last man standing because we know where we are.

Honestly, we are overly determined to haul ourselves up whichever way we know,” said the journeyman who has previously coached Chemelil Sugar and Sofapaka.

However, Mururi has his work cut out in the remaining as he faces title-seeking KCB and battle-hardened Kakamega Homeboyz but alluded that does not worry him an inch.

“Yes, KCB and Homeboyz are some of the toughest teams in the league but I have this feeling that they are beatable and especially given that we will be playing in our own backyard,” said Mururi.

The former Harambee Stars offensive midfielder, however, conceded that it has been a nightmarish season for Vihiga who are in the last position in the chart with 20 points.

“We have been on a losing streak and I’m not happy as a coach. On the flip side, we have been creating chances and only the defence has been shipping in cheap goals and I must work on that,” said Mururi whose team lost 3-1 to AFC Leopards in a round 31 match last weekend.

Besided Vihiga, other teams that are clutching onto reeds in the league include Mathare United and Western Stima who have accumulated 24 points and 22 points respectively.  

 Meanwhile, with teams remaining with an average of three matches to conclude the season, it is apparent that it’s a two-horse race for the title between Tusker and KCB who are first and second respectively in the log.

Tusker and KCB are tied on 58 points although the latter should squarely blame themselves for failure to make the most of the opportunity to assume the leadership after they settled for a barren draw with cup holders Gor Mahia in Thika last Sunday.

As things stand, five teams which are below in the pecking order including Bandari (46 points), Nairobi City Stars (44 points), AFC Leopards (44 points), Kariobangi Sharks (44 points) and Kakamega Homeboyz (43 points) will only be battling to wind up in the third position in the chart.

Despite FKF and Betking reaching a mutual agreement to terminate the sponsorship contract of the top flight league, there is still a lot to play for in the season with the standards of the weekend action indicating as much.

In Thika, Gor and Leopards treated fans to a high-octane action that was bloateds by wastefulness by both teams.

Apparently with the knowledge that their league title defence is beyond their reach, Gor rested f second choice goalkeeper Samuel Njau, who has been Gad Mathews’ understudy, and the rookie glove-man did not disappoint as he saved some dangerous shots from David Ambulu and national team under-23 striker David Ambulu.

But it was not all about KCB throughout the match as their defence weathered a heavy storm from attacks by K’ogalo’s Tito Okello and John Macharia. 

The result left Gor perched in the ninth position in the chart with 41 points from 29 matches with the team now angling to wind up among the top five teams.

In the meantime, relegation-haunted Mathare United are still battling to evade the big chop and their seriousness was reflected in a shock 2-0 win over Nairobi City Stars at Ruaraka ground.

Placed in the 15th position in the 17-team league, Mathare under coach Frank Ouna have suddenly sprung to life but they will have to strive to win three of their remaining fixtures and hope that Nzoia Sugar, who are above them in the chart falter to have a chance of survival.