The penultimate round of the FKF National Super League (NSL) set for Saturday 14, will serve to clear the hazy promotion race at the top.Follow the Mozzart Sport Kenya channel on WhatsApp: Nairobi United and APS Bomet have a place secured in next season’s FKF Premier League (FKFPL) and more teams are angling for the other, a promotion play-off spot.Bomet, a side that spent more than half the season at the summit of the table made history when they were promoted the top tier, even before their MCF game.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977551##John Mabia joined the promoted side midway through the season adding punch to an already dominant team.He wants to be ‘on the right side of history’.‘’It’s a good thing to be on the right side of history. No team this side of the Rift Valley has ever played in the top flight so it will be a great thing and needs to be celebrated,’’ says the optimistic forward.Three years ago, Bomet thought they had finally secured their place in the top flight but in a season marred by off field politics, this was never to be.The season’ results were nullified in all divisions making promotion/relegation impossible.The AP’s licked their wounds on the way back down but knew their time would come and it seems to have come.‘’I don’t feel any pressure neither do my teammates. Most of the players here were in the team the last time AP’s Bomet gained promotion but the league was nullified that year. APS Bomet promoted following FKF’s favourable rulingThe goal is still the same, nothing has changed; we are aiming for the premier league slot. Since we have mature and experienced players, it becomes very easy to maintain that goal. Everyone is focussed and keeping their fitness levels high,’’ adds Mabia who has played in the top flight before with Wazito FC.Backed by a very experienced technical bench, and a home support that fills the Bomet County stadium every matchweek, the AP’s understand how crucial their last two fixtures are in fulfilling their life-long dream of climbing up.‘’Our coaches are very experienced in this division and they have taken it upon themselves to keep everyone grounded in this crucial period. This has helped a lot,’’ Mabia continues.##NAJAVA_MECA_8976950##In round 31, the side had its share of controversy for not seeing off to completion their tie against another promotion chasing side Kibera Black tars.Having trailed 1-0 to the last quarter of the contest, AP’s, playing away to Kibera Black Stars, thought they had equalised but seeing their goal ruled out for offside, protested the decision.The match never ended and is still in arbitration awaiting a verdict. Mabia reveals that they had to move on and focus on the next fixtures as that was a distraction.‘’We moved on from the Kibera match and I have never heard anyone speak about it in the team. We moved to the next match and won, that’s the level of focus in the team. The matter is still unresolved and whatever the office will decide, we will be okay with. Right now we are just training our guns on MCF who are next away and then we wind it up with SS Assad at home,’’ he says of the tie that could have put things at the top a little clearer.Among the teams angling for a promotion slot is his former side fortune Sacco who occupy third position and just four points below second place AP’s.Tactics talk: Kenya Police vs Shabana- who holds the edge?His moving over to Bomet he says was a calculated call as he yearns for top flight football once more.‘’I came into the team in the second leg when the team was at the top of the table. That tells you they didn’t need many signings. I was brought in to add some experience and maturity to the unit. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8976962##I have been an opponent many times against AP’s and something about their dedication to each and every match caught my eye. I wanted to be a part of such fighting spirit and hopefully be a part of their dream journey upward,’’ says Mabia who, having been out for three weeks, returns to action this weekend just in the nick of time.‘’Even though I slotted in well, starting once and coming off the bench four times, a knock on my knee kept me out for about three weeks but I have resumed training and fighting for a chance to feature in the remaining two crucial matches.’’Gor Mahia star disheartened after Baba Dogo Grounds shuts out young talentsThe speedy forward, who can almost claim to be a veteran of the division having spent more than a decade in the NSL ever since he made his debut while in form two in high school, serves as a guiding light to the younger AP’s fresh talent within the squad.‘’The team has young players. They come to me sometimes for advice and since I have played the NSL since I was a junior in high school I guide them appropriately. It’s been more than a decade. When they see me as someone who has played at the top level it inspires them,’’ he concludes.
