The 2022-2023 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) season ended on last Sunday with Gor Mahia clinching the title at Kasarani Stadium by the barest of margins.Gor, claimed a record-extending 20th league title in style, pipping Tusker in the closely contested race by a point and consequently, K’Ogalo, will return to the CAF Champions League next season.While the Gor fraternity was in tears of joy after watching the team come from a goal down and thrash Nairobi City Stars 4-1 in the final round of the season, tears of sadness were evident in the Mathare United and Vihiga Bullets camps as the two were formally relegated to the second tier.##NAJAVA_MECA_7340086##Despite Mathare edging Wazito 1-0 at Muhoroni Stadium, the win was not enough to save them from bidding the top league farewell after 25 years.Kenya Police forward Elvis Rupia finished was the season’s top scorer after finding the back of the net 27 times to break to break the 47-year old goal scoring record held by Gor legend Maurice ‘Sonyi’ Ochieng who, netted 26 times in the 1976 season.Nzoia custodian Humphrey Katasi and his Gor counterpart Gad Mathews kept 17 cleansheets apiece, the highest in the season.Besides the individual brilliance from the trio, we witnessed thrilling action on and off the pitch.The season was full of fun and had its low moments as well.MESHACK KISENGE: My 2022-23 FKFPL Team of the SeasonFrom watching rookies take the league by storm, breathtaking title and relegation race, upcoming referees faring well in maiden season, top of the drawer performances in the two legs of the Mashemeji Derby, players and officials being nabbed by the match fixing dragnet, clubs giving back the community, having two ambulances on standby on match days the opening of Lang’ata Complex to Gor reclaiming the gong. There was everything to watch out for in the termMozzart Sport looks at interesting topics and happenings in the 2022-2023 season.Enough of the excuses KCB and BandariThese clubs have massive budgets but wrestling the league title from the hands of Tusker or Gor Mahia is where they draw the line. I was really tempted to drag four-time Ulinzi Stars into this conversation but let me excuse the soldiers at least for now.KCB finished fifth on the log with 64 points and reached the quarterfinals of the Mozzart Bet Cup.Curtain falls on dramatic and chaotic 2022-23 FKFPL seasonBandari on the other hand, placed sixth with 60 points and were dumped out of the Cup by AFC Leopards.Watching Bandari and Ulinzi put in half-hearted performances season in-season out leaves one wondering the kind of ambitions the two outfits habour. Or are we setting the bar too high for them? I don’t think so.Apart from gracing the league, providing employment, the only other positive thing KCB did in the concluded season is giving attachment opportunities to three upcoming female physiotherapists. For that, I say well done KCB.Gor, Tusker, Homeboyz granted CAF Men’s Interclub LicensesI must also laud the Bandari media team for the good job done.However, given how deep the banker’s pockets run so are those of Bandari who, have been flying for away matches, the two shouldn’t be going for seasons without a title.Adios league legendsThe concluded season was the last for veteran midfielder Anthony Kimani Njenga alias Muki.The long-serving midfielder bowed out last weekend after playing his last game for Nairobi City Stars. In total, Muki played 284 matches for City Stars in the two stints he served the club.He also featured for Sofapaka, Bandari as well as the national team Harambee Stars. It was fulfilling to see the crowd at Kasarani and fellow players celebrate the midfielder before the final game of the season against Gor kicked off.Former Kenyan international Stephen Waruru also retired from competitive football after years of service.Nuttal, Kerr, Aussems congratulate Gor MahiaThe Bidco United man played for Thika United, Ulinzi Stars, Sofapaka and KCB. He won the ‘Golden Boot’ in 2011 with Ulinzi.Thank you for the years of service and wonderful memories Muki and Waruru. Wishing you all the best in your retirement.Reports also indicate that veteran forward Ezekiel Odera and Peter ‘Pinchez’ Opiyo could follow suit. Already, Pinchez has had a taste of what football will be like post his active years as the midfielder has been siting in the City Stars bench since April.Should the duo hang their boots, they will exit with their heads high having lasted at the top level for more than a decade.Some proper testimonial matches will be the perfect send off for these players who exit as legends.Open letter to Tusker honchosI have read headlines, hard-hitting articles and all manner of opinion pieces castigating the sorry state of the Ruaraka grounds especially the playing surface.The top management of Tusker Football Club has from time to time been called out for turning a blind eye to the state of the playing surface at Ruaraka.Confetti for the fans! FKF clarifies on jumbled up Gor Mahia coronationTeams struggle to string passes together at Ruaraka and fans are left to squeeze themselves in the single stand and atop of the containers resting metres from the zone one.I have watched Tusker players express themselves well in good surfaces this season and it is only fair if the management of the club breaks the bank and give the facility a proper facelift.For the sake of the careers of those young men who risk it all to kick the ball on such a surface, consider renovating the facility or hosting matches elsewhere.Allow me to end the letter by congratulating the Tusker media team for the excellent work they did in the concluded season. They simply set the bar higher.Did Mathare United ignore the red flags?Mathare United kissed the grass last Sunday after finishing second from bottom in the concluded season.The team, had been flirting with relegation for years and finally fell for it this year ending the 25-year stay in the top league.Mathare failed to change tact after surviving the axe in the 2020-2021 season as the team approached the subsequent campaign in a similar manner.Thankfully, the Slum Boys cheated the drop after FKF annulled the term that was manned by government-installed committees.Magical Rupia wins 22/23 Golden Boot, ending all-time top scorer in a single season debateWhen normalcy in as far as running the game resumed, Mathare changed its spots but within a short period, slumped to the old way of doing things.If the management had taken the relegation scares in previous seasons seriously, the former league champions would not have gone down.Clearly, the management ignored the red flags that had been in existence since 2020.ConclusionWith the league activities over, focus now shifts to the Mozzart Bet Cup final set for Saturday in Nairobi. Kakamega Homeboyz will take on Tusker in the final with Ulinzi Stars and AFC Leopards locking horns in the third-place playoff. The winner, will earn a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup.The promotion/relegation playoff is also set to go down one week after the conclusion of the National Super League action.The third-placed team in the Super League will play Wazito in a two-legged playoff.Ambrose Rachier reveals retirement plans on the aftermath of Gor Mahia’s 20th titleHeading to the new season that is set to kick off on August 26, we can only hope that the league managers will have sealed the broadcast, title sponsor deals and other relevant commercial deals before the term kicks off.It is important for clubs and football stakeholders to know what is at stake before the season gets underway. The league bosses should also spare time and address the issues including officiating, hooliganism, match fixing, all, raised by various stakeholders.The need to sensitize paramedics on the significance of extending their services to the stands should be stressed.Most importantly, there should be a sustained campaign to lure fans back to the stands.
