In the last 10 years, a total of nine clubs in Kenya have made their debut in the top-tier league after impressing in the lower tiers.Muhoroni Youth, Kakamega Homeboyz, Ushuru, Kariobangi Sharks, Zoo Kericho -now Zoo FC-, Nakumatt – now Mt Kenya United-, Wazito FC, Vihiga United, and Bidco United have all made their league debuts since 2011 in that particular order.Bidco United is the most recent team in that list to have a taste of top-tier football but how did they fare in their maiden season compared to the other eights teams in their respective debuts, and what could be the possible reason or reasons?It’s been our first season in charge and we managed to finish number 11#NikujaribuTu pic.twitter.com/2krqx9JNmE— Bidco United (@BidcoUnited) August 23, 2021 In this piece, we look at how these teams performed in their first season, ranked in points and table position.Kariobangi Sharks, 2017Kariobangi Sharks can be termed as the most successful club in their debut season in the top tier, both in points and in table placing.Sharks earned their promotion in 2016 to feature in the top tier in 2017 after finishing second in the National Super League that season with 83 points, nine less than Champions Nzoia United.FKF Media Briefing: “Kariobangi Sharks, Nakumatt, Zoo Kericho and Nzoia Sugar promoted to the KPL.” #TheScoreKE— Carol Radull (@CarolRadull) January 9, 2017 In their first season up, Sharks finished third with 52 points from 34 matches, collected from 13 wins and as many draws. They lost only 8 games.They also managed to score 42 goals, only Gor Mahia and second-placed Sofapaka scored more with 53 and 48 goals respectively.Defensively, they had a good display conceding only 26. Only Gor Mahia, Posta Rangers, and Kakamega Homeboyz let in fewer goals with 22, 22, and 23 respectively.Upon promotion, Sharks did not interfere as much with both the playing unit and the technical bench and that helped them to a great extent.Bidco United, 2020/21What a season it has been for Anthony Akhulia’s led Bidco United who just finished the league 11th with 44 points from 32 games!For most people, the top-tier inexperience for Akhulia and most of his players were seen as a stumbling block and many even thought that Bidco would not be surviving another season more so after a five-game winless streak at the start of the league.How wrong they were! After learning the ropes with the big boys in the league, Bidco finally made their presence felt in February as they went on a perfect month, winning all their four matches including beating champions Tusker!Statement on the cancellation of all FKF leagues season 2020/2021.1.Gor- Mahia declared as the champion KPL season 20/212.Chemilil Sugar and Sony sugar relegated.3.Nairobi City stars (NSL champions 20/21 and Bidco Fc promoted to the KPL. pic.twitter.com/z0lUuzMTL8— Grace Mwelu (@Gmwelu) April 30, 2020 Since then, they have produced good results when it really mattered and have managed to collect 44 points from 10 wins and 14 draws, losing only eight times.Only Tusker FC, KCB, and Bandari have lost fewer games with 5, 6, and 7 respectively.Just like Kariobangi Sharks, Bidco United have maintained most of the players that steered the team to promotion with minimal transfer activity.Vihiga United, 2018Vihiga United had their first top-tier stint in 2018 after a splendid season in the second tier and had a good debut season.In their first attempt, they managed to finish the league 12th with 41 points from 10 wins and 11 draws, something that they have been unable to replicate this season and are set to play in the playoffs to secure a league spot next season.Their major undoing in that season, just like it has been this season, was scoring few and conceding more.Zoo FC, 2017The just-concluded season would have been Zoo’s fifth in the top tier but they were relegated following a directive from FIFA on matters match-fixing and have an active appeal on the same.Zoo were beneficiaries of the league’s expansion to accommodate 18 teams after finishing third in the NSL in 2016.Zoo Kericho and Nakumatt benefit as they are promoted to top flight football to join Nzoia Sugar and K-Sharks who had automatic promotion.— Katami Michelle (@MichKatami) January 9, 2017 Their maiden premier league season in 2017 is one of their best in the four seasons that they have been in the top league as they collected 40 points from 34 matches, nine wins and 13 draws, to finish 12th on the log.Zoo FC have relied on creating star players from youthful players as opposed to buying experienced players from other clubs, a strategy that has worked in their favor long enough.Nakumatt, 2017Do you remember Nakumatt, the football club not the supermarket? The one that changed its name to Mt Kenya United, and then Dandora love? Yes, that one.They made their premier league debut in 2017 and were also beneficiaries of the league’s expansion after finishing fourth.In their first attempt, Nakumatt managed 39 points from 10 wins and nine draws and went on to finish the league 15th.Ushuru, 2014The now-defunct Ushuru FC made their league debut in 2014 after a successful spell in the second tier.In their maiden season, they collected 33 points from 30 games in 10 wins and three draws to finish 12th on the log.However, despite finishing 12, they lost 17 games in their first premier league campaign.Wazito, 2018Moneybags Wazito FC stormed the premier league with a bang in 2018 but little did they know that it would end catastrophically.From the nine debutants in the last 10 years, Wazito have had the most losses in their first season with 19.THE ‘EAGLES’ OF NSL:The ‘UON’ side, Wazito FC & Vihiga United have been promoted to the top flight league (KPL) after the duo registered an impressive show in their last matches played today 25/11/17. Vihiga Utd beat Ushuru FC 1-0 while Wazito arrested Police 5-2. pic.twitter.com/pzqpBPycDv— Ministry Of Sports, Culture & Heritage (@moscakenya) November 25, 2017 The moneybags managed only 31 points from 34 matches, where they won only 8 games and drew seven, finishing 17th and getting relegated back to the NSLAfter confirming their promotion then, Wazito FC went on a signing spree and brought in 14 new faces in what could be said to have been one of their biggest mistakes that season.Kakamega Homeboyz, 2013Kakamega Homeboyz suffered the same fate as Wazito in their maiden season as they got relegated at the end of the campaign.They managed only 29 points from 30 games, barely averaging a point per game, gathered from 6 wins and 11 draws.Homeboyz suffered 13 losses and ended up 15th on the log, and had to start again.Newly-promoted Kenya Premier League side Kakamega Homeboyz beat Karuturi Sports 3-1 in their first game of the season on Sunday.#kpl— Buba Jallow Fallaboweh (@soccercafe1) February 25, 2013 Muhoroni FC, 2012The name of Muhoroni Youth rekindles both good and bad memories to football fans and stakeholders in the country for different reasons.The top tier experience for Muhoroni came in 2012 and improved steadily throughout the seasons until they got relegated in 2017In 2012, they finished 14th on the log after collecting 27 points from seven wins and six draws as they lost 17 other games from the total of 30 in that season.
