Mathare United’s center back Stephen Okola has backed the club to win the National Super League crown.Mathare will face Mara Sugar in the penultimate game of a title-deciding match on Saturday at the Awendo Green Stadium.##NAJAVA_MECA_8173378##Ahead of the gigantic clash, the two sides, who have clinched automatic promotion to Kenya’s coveted league, the FKF Premier League, next season, will compete for bragging rights, with the outcome determining the second division champions.The 2008 Kenya Premier League winners are second in the standings, one point behind league leader Mara Sugar, who sits at the summit of the 20-team competition with 78 points.Last week, Mathare’s title chances were boosted when they were awarded two extra points after winning an appeal against Darajani Gogo, who had two ineligible technical staff members on their bench during the scoreless draw.NCPB facing acid test in title-defense questA win for the slum boys will almost certainly ensure that they are declared champions, while a draw will dash their ambitions since Mara leads by a sailable goal difference.Speaking exclusively to Mozzart Sport ahead of the do-or-die showdown, Mathare’s Okola has tipped the team to win, albeit admitting they would have a strong challenge from Mara Sugar.”It’s going to be a tough encounter on Saturday since we are all after the league title; nonetheless, I’m rooting for my team to overcome the Mara challenge and win the match,” he stated.The former Sofapaka center back, who joined the Francis Kimazi-led side in a mid-season transfer, has highlighted the importance of winning the match, stating that Mathare’s primary goal after returning to Kenya’s first-division league is to win the title.With Mara leading by a point, Mathare will need to avoid dropping points against the Benedict Wanjala-coached side in order to win the championship.Lionesses pool opponents Papua New Guinea pull out of Olympic repechage”The Mara contest is such an important tie that I insist we must collect maximum points if we are to realize our dreams of being champions at the end of the season,” continued the hard-tackling defender.Furthermore, while reflecting on his performance in his six-month stint at Mathare, Okola expressed his joy in leading Mathare back to the league.”I am happy with my performance, especially after helping the squad return to the first-tier competition. It’s every player’s dream to play in the big boys league, and this gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I gave it my all during my brief time with the club,” added the one-time Harambee Stars U-23 player.
