Wazito FC and Mathare United have been battling it out for the relegation play-off spot.
Both teams are battling for a spot in the league for the coming season and are leaving nothing to chance.
There is currently a four-point difference between the two teams, with Wazito FC leading.
Mathare United is facing a challenge they have never faced since being promoted to the Premier League in 1999. The Nairobi-based community club has become a household name in Kenyan football, winning the FKF Premier League title in 2007/2008 and competing in various CAF inter-club competitions.
Coach Collins Omondi Korea recognizes the history behind the club saying, “Mathare United has been a pillar of Kenyan football, every facet in football has had influence from this institution ranging from coaching to player development in both the female and male’s game and for this reason, we want to keep upholding this rich history and to secure our place in the top tier of football.”
While acknowledging their past achievements, the team is however now focused on its current situation, which will be the round 33 games they face next against Ulinzi Stars, and are gunning for a positive result to be able to take this battle down to the wire.
“The team’s attitude is fantastic, and we expect a positive outcome in our match against Ulinzi on Wednesday. Although our style of play has been commendable, we need to work on converting our opportunities into goals. Therefore, we have been focusing on improving our effectiveness in front of the goal during training,” said Omondi.
On the other hand, the Muhoroni-based side Wazito FC is fairly new in the top-tier competition making their debut in 2018. Their best league finish came in the 2020/2021 season when they secured a ninth-place position.
Recently, they achieved a crucial victory against title contenders Tusker FC, boosting their confidence and alleviating some of the pressure.
Looking ahead to their next fixture, Coach Charles Odera acknowledges the positive impact the win against Tusker has had on his team, stating, “The victory has relieved some of the pressure on us. We have managed to create a four-point gap between us and Mathare United, and my players now have a bit more confidence in their ability to beat the next opponent.”
Coach Odera emphasizes that the fight to remain in the FKF Premier League is far from over, and his team must maintain focus on the task at hand. He asserts, “We are yet to be safe, we have to keep displaying that fighting spirit for both our remaining fixtures and also the possible play-off match that we are fighting so hard to secure ”
The two teams are scheduled to play against each other in the last round of matches in the league on June 25, 2023. However, both coaches are adamant that they need to win their next matches before contemplating their crucial encounter at the end of the season.
Fans of both teams will be hoping that come the ultimate day their team survives the drop.
