The Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) 2023-24 season is mid-way through following the successful conclusion of round 17 games.Defending champions Gor Mahia edged out a stubborn Posta Rangers FC 1-0 in a top-of-the-table clash in Machakos on Saturday, to keep their unbeaten run.Defender Kennedy “Vidic” Onyango returned to bite his former side with a fine header in the first half to secure the three points that saw K’Ogalo open a huge seven-point gap at the top of the pile.Despite murmurs of the team’s uncharacteristic playing style, coach Johnathan McKinstry’s tactics are surely giving him the results he needs to achieve his goals.AFCON2023: Ivory Coast team to beat, says AFCON-winning coach BelmadiSimba Wa Nairobi feasting Nairobi City Stars’ fine run that has seen the Simba Wa Nairobi steadily move from the lower sections of the table to position two currently persisted after they thumped out-of-steam FC Talanta 3-0 on Saturday.City, who were never considered title contenders, moved to within seven points of the leaders, and a point clear of Posta Rangers, the league pacesetters at the start of the season.The victory against coach Ken Kenyatta’s side was City’s sixth on the trot, making them the undisputed most on-form team presently.Tusker trumpeting The Brewers’ rough patch is surely behind them and the ‘Lion’, as their coach Robert Matano is nicknamed, is roaring again.The twelve-time champions of Kenya were utterly ruthless against KCB, hammering the Bankers 5-0 at Police Sacco Stadium.Eric Kapaito, who’s steadily regaining his scoring mojo grabbed a hat-trick, including a wonder goal akin to the famous Wayne Rooney’s bicycle kick. It was a big fest and harvest for the Ruaraka-based side as they recorded their fourth back-to-back wins.In a recent interview with Mozzart Sport, Matano asserted that the team has finally gelled and they’re now ready to challenge for the title.“The league is still wide open,” he said, rubbishing any thoughts of the title having already been decided.Na BIA zikawa Tano…. Network inayoshika sawasawa ni 5GNjuguna akawapa Wanabenki KCB Mkono….High 5🔥#FkfpremierLeaguepic.twitter.com/kytxqU4jCK— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) January 7, 2024 Who will save Shabana?The going is certainly getting tough and rough for newbies Shabana FC.Promoted to the FKFPL with pomp and color last season, the Gusii giants appear to have joined the table of men without washing their hands and are rudely being sent back to the sink taps.Seventeen fixtures later, the Glamour Boys find themselves rooted in the danger zone above rock bottom Nzoia Sugar FC.They have recorded a paltry three wins, five draws and a whopping nine losses.Shabana went down by a solitary goal against an equally struggling Muhoroni Youth on Sunday at Raila Odinga Homabay County Stadium, on Sunday, to compound their misery.The club is reportedly plotting a major squad overhaul in January, and have also roped in Nicholas Muyoti from Nairobi City Stars as their new coach.##NAJAVA_MECA_7785784##Battle of the struggling AFC Leopards edged out a floundering Ulinzi Stars 1-0, while Sofapaka eased pressure on their shoulders with a well-worked 3-0 win over Bidco United FC.The league continues next weekend as the second starts in earnest.
