FOOTBALL
Mathare United FC moments before kickoff [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Mathare United is at risk of being relegated at the end of the 2021 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League season after failing to win their 14th match of the campaign as the local football league resumed over the weekend under strict Covid-19 protocols.
The league was suspended on March 26 after President Uhuru Kenyatta banned all sporting activities in the country, owing to the increased Covid-19 infections.
Mathare played out to a 0-0 draw with Vihiga United, a result that left them bottom of the league standings with seven points.
Out of the 14 matches played, the Slum Boys have only registered one win against Nzoia Sugar back in February.
FOOTBALL
AFC Leopards celebrate after beating Nzoia FC 1-0 during the FKF Premier League match at Ruaraka grounds. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
AFC Leopards closed the gap on FKF Premier League leaders Tusker to within two points after claiming an important victory over Nzoia Sugar over the weekend as football returned under strict Covid-19 protocols after seven weeks out.
The league was suspended on March 26 after President Uhuru Kenyatta banned all sporting activities in the country, owing to the increased Covid-19 infections.
Even though match fitness and player rustiness was largely expected in majority of the round 16 matches, Leopards appeared unfazed after registering a massive 1-0 win in their match against Nzoia Sugar.
Goal on Monday. The players have been out for more than a month, then the game has returned and boom! They get competitive back-to-back matches. We might not see an impact immediately but soon after, we might see players getting injuries that will limit them from playing. We will play yes, as scheduled, but it was too soon; players needed about a week more or so to bring their bodies back to competitive matches. Once the workload increases, we will experience real struggles.
Ingwe were last crowned in 1998 and since then, they have failed to get their hands on the league title. It seems things might be different in the ongoing campaign since the 13-time champions are placed third on the table with 29 points. But Juma does not want to speak about it yet.