Four draws and one loss in the business end of 2021/2022 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) have left Kakamega Homeboyz staring at perhaps the worst degeneration of any Kenyan football outfit in living memory.After a decade of Gor Mahia and Tusker fc duopoly, Homeboyz stepped up with gutsy, sometimes controversial and consistent but nonetheless breathtaking run of victories that left every team dazed in their wake.At one point the Bernard Mwalala coached outfit created a fifteen-point buffer between them and closest pursuer. But debilitating draws against Wazito, Police, Sofapaka and a crushing loss to defending champions Tusker last weekend has left them reeling, with a mere point to defend and four crucial fixtures to navigate.Their first league coronation is under serious threat. Aside from the lingering questions on the competition’s validity given Kenya’s status at FIFA, a Homeboyz coronation would provide welcome change from the yellow and green that have alternately graced the podium in the last decade.Coach Mwalala, always choosy with press interviews has devised a new weird escape from meeting the sports media. The ex-Kenyan international takes off at great speed after full time whistle goes with firm instructions to his underlings not to grant interviews.The precarious situation in which Homeboyz currently are will heighten the urge for media interaction with Mwalala. How does a seemingly well run club, well coached players with a supportive shirt sponsor in Mozzartbet crumble like a pack of cards?With four games left Homeboyz are hanging on to first position with 56 points, one better than Tusker who impressively shook off early season blues to reel in on the erstwhile runaway Homeboyz. Against many odds Bandari find themselves in the thick of things as they stay within touching distance on 50 points while Gor Mahia, City Stars and Kariobangi Sharks will escort the groom.Twelve-time champions AFC Leopards are 10th on 39 points. Ingwe boast of the most eye catching football in the division with sprightly young squad. Sadly, for the Kenyan giants, results are what count at the end of ninety minutes.There’s thrilling relegation dogfight at the foot of the FKFPL table with one time Kenyan champions Mathare United already ‘dead and buried,’ Besides not winning games, the moneyless slum boys are now not honoring fixtures. With a paltry eleven points from 29 matches Mathare United are headed to the second tier where oblivion is not far.They are however, praying for miracles of biblical caliber to retain top-flight status. One such work of wonderment would entail the 2008 champions winning their last five games while the teams hovering above lose their matches.Another miraculous escape Mathare United are silently praying for is the eventual voiding of the entire football season in Kenya. In that case there would be no relegation, no promotion and no continental football for eventual winners.More fascinating is the down ward spiral of Wazito (22 points) in contrast to the spectacular rise of Vihiga Bullets (26 points). The tug of between these two is thrilling. Only four points separate them but Wazito have played one game less (City Stars on Monday evening).A great many have cheered as the moneyed Wazito hobble with missteps despite the lavish facilitation available to the team. Their season can take many turns still including a life-saving scenario where Mathare United miss a third fixture leading to annulment of their results. That can turn tables in favor of Wazito.
