FC Talanta Peter Njamma (left) and Victor Otieno of AFC Leopards during FKF Premier League at Dandora Stadium. Jan 18, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
It was not the kind of result Nairobi City Stars were wishing for.
They had plans, big plans. They had prayers, too. In the end, their plans came to naught.
Their prayers weren’t answered either. In this life, we win some, we lose some. On this Sunday evening, Nairobi Stars lost theirs. Their spot in the Kenyan Premier League is gone. Gone until next year, that is, if they make it back to the top-flight league.
For the next year, they will be wishing it were different.
It was the same case for FC Talanta. They’ll also be missing in KPL action.
City Stars were held by Mathare United to a 0-0 while Murang’a Seal won the battle for survival after defeating FC Talanta 1-0. Both City Stars and Talanta will now play in the National Super League (NSL) next season. Posta Rangers, who finished 16th, will now await to face Naivas in the relegation and promotion playoffs for the last spot in the top-tier league.
Nairobi United, who were crowned the NSL champions last Saturday and will be joined by Fortune Sacco, who finished second.
While City Stars and FC Talanta were counting their losses, it was joy and jubilation for Kenya Police as they lifted their first FKF Premier League title yesterday.
The law enforcers rallied from behind to hold record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia to a 1-1 draw in the final match of the season played at a fully packed Ulinzi Sports Complex. Shariff Musa struck in the 24th minute to hand K’Ogalo a slender 1-0 halftime advantage in the match played for bragging rights rather than to determine the champions.
David Okoth ensured the thousands of Police fans at Ulinzi would celebrate their maiden title without suffering a last-day defeat when he scored the equaliser in the 56th minute.
With the draw, Police finish top of the 18-team standings with 65 points, six ahead of Gor, who relinquish not only the title they have won for the past two years but also their spot in the CAF Champions League next season.
Kakamega Homeboyz finished third with 38 points.