The FKF Premier League has entered a crucial stage; already five matches into the second leg and fast approaching the home stretch.At this point, there is a fierce contest at both ends of the table. Some clubs are fighting tooth and nail to win the ultimate prize, while others are battling for their league status by escaping the jaws of relegation that keep widening day by day.At the end of the season, the two bottom teams at positions 17 and 18 will be relegated automatically, while the third last team will compete in the Promotion/Relegation Playoffs to determine if they will beat the drop or they will have to find a place in the second tier.Former Gor Mahia midfielder joins Mathare United on a short term dealWhat will it take to avoid relegation? Which clubs are at risk of facing the chop? Mozzart Sport takes a look at the eight clubs that are at risk of dropping to the National Super League (NSL) ahead of Matchday 23.On average, a team will require a minimum of 35 points to survive relegation, at least according to data from recent FKF Premier League seasons. As of now, only four teams, Police FC, Tusker, Gor Mahia and KCB, are past the 35-point mark.On the other end of the table, Bidco United and Nairobi City Stars occupy the bottom two slots with 19 points each while Mara Sugar at 11th are seven points above the two with just four points separating them with Posta Rangers at 16th.##NAJAVA_MECA_8745633##Last season, Talanta amassed a total of 37 points and finished in 15th place. Sofapaka garnered 36 points and had to beat Naivas FC in the playoffs to secure their league status for another season. Muhoroni Youth and Nzoia Sugar, at 32 points and 22 points, respectively, were relegated automatically.In the previous four seasons, all teams that attained 35 points were able to beat the drop, thus making 35 the magical number of points.Ulinzi at 10th are just seven points shy of 35 points and are therefore largely expected to go past the mark with the 12 games that are remaining.Beldine Odemba responds to Harambee Starlets critics after jetting back from TunisiaIn the thick of the relegation matrix, therefore, are Mara Sugar at 11th and Nairobi City Stars at the bottom of the table. The other teams from 12th to 17th are Mathare United, Kariobangi Sharks, Murang’a Seal, FC Talanta, Posta Rangers and Bidco United.According to their latest run of form, Bidco United and Nairobi City Stars are the two teams that are most likely going to be consumed directly by the jaws of relegation.Both teams are on a 10-match winless streak and have both lost five and drawn an equal number of matches in their last 10 matches and might be relegated should the trend continue.##NAJAVA_MECA_8745565##The two teams are yet to taste victory this year. Bidco’s last league win was on Sunday 8 December, a 1-0 victory over defending champions Gor Mahia, while Simba wa Nairobi’s last win was on Saturday 7 December, a 1-0 victory over Murang’a Seal.Posta Rangers have had an improved performance since the return of Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo as head coach and particularly in the last five matches.The Mailmen have won two, drawn two and tasted defeat once, thereby collecting eight points out of a possible 15, the most by any team in the bottom half of the table during that period, and are therefore likely to escape the chop if they keep the momentum.Why Mathare United head coach is confident of improved results in remainder of seasonTalanta have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five and are in the danger of facing the chop. Seal, on the other hand, are in the worst form in the league, where they have lost their four consecutive matches and have picked only two points from their last seven games.Kariobangi Sharks, who have been hit by injuries in the recent past, are on a 10-match winless streak but have managed to draw seven of those matches.With the return of some of Sharks’ key players, the William Muluya-coached side are expected to win a few matches that will help them to detangle from the relegation matrix.##NAJAVA_MECA_8745570##2008 Premier League champions Mathare United have won one, drawn three, and lost one of their five matches. With the mid-season acquisitions that coach John Kamau made to the team, The Slum Boys are likely to retain their league status.FKF Premier League newbies Mara Sugar FC will have their strong start to the season where they picked the majority of their points to thank in this relegation battle.The Sugar Milers would need at least nine points to be safe, and with their performance throughout the season, that is a feat they are most likely to achieve.Why former Real Madrid and Chelsea star missed out on Harambee Stars jobIn the end, the relegation battle will be won and lost by a team that finds the momentum to win, a striker who would come to the rescue of his team, a defender or goalkeeper who will make a grave blunder or a referee who will issue a wrong call.
