Major upsets were recorded at the weekend in Kenya’s Premier League soccer action that saw Gor Mahia and Sony Sugar succumb to their second defeats as Mahakama registered their first victory.
Nevertheless, this year’s league remains highly competitive. Mathare United, regular campaigners in continental events boast the highest goals scored with 19, while troubled Gor, fined US$ 16,393 by the Kenya Primier League Limited last week for failing to stop fan trouble during a league match, are languishing at the bottom of the goals tally with a mere five goals scored.
Sher Karuturi, sponsored by a horticultural firm that goes by the same name, have conceded the least goals with four.
Only three points separate the top six clubs while only six points separate the last six.
League leaders Mathare United were held to a 1-1 draw by Bandari. The draw enabled World Hope who were lying fourth last week, catch up with the leaders following their 1-0 victory over Sony Sugar.
Mathare United are sharing the top slot with World Hope with 19 points each from 10 outings.
It was a bad outing for the two sugarcane teams, Chemelil Sugar and Sony, who lost their away matches in Nairobi.
Other weekend casualties were Ulinzi Stars, Red Berets, Mathare Youth, and Sher Karuturi respectively.
Gor Mahia, the 1987 Africa Cup Winners Cup champions, must go back to the drawing table to regain their winning form.
Barely a week after losing 3-0 to defending Champions Tusker, they succumbed top a 2-0 thrashing by Western Stima in Kisumu, Western Kenya.
After losing 1-0 to Mathare United last weekend in Awendo, former Champions Sony Sugar went down narrowly, losing 1-0 to hosts World Hope.
Elsewhere, Mahakama FC registered their first victory when they defeated Red Berets 2-1 in another thrilling encounter at the Nyayo National Stadium.
In other matches,Thika United utilised their home-ground advantage to beat Sher Karuturi by a solitary goal.
Defending Champions Tusker sprung to their winning ways when they trounced Mathare Youth 3-1.
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) caused a major upset when they edged Chemelil Sugar 2-1 while Ulinzi Stars lost at home to the visiting Agro Chemical 2-1.
Weekend results: KCB 2 Chemelil 1, Ulinzi Stars 1 Agro Chemical 2, Tusker 3 Mathare Youth 1,Band ari 1 Mathare United 1,Mahakama 2 Red Berets 1,Thika United 1 Sher Karuturi 0, W estern Stima 2 Gor Mahia 0, World Hope 1 Sony Sugar 0.
| KENYA SOCCER LEAGUE TABLE |
| Rank | Team | P | W. | D. | L. | F. | A. | Pts. |
| 1. | Mathare United | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 19 |
| 2. | World Hope | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 19 |
| 3. | Chemelil Sugar | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 18 |
| 4. | Tusker | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 18 |
| 5. | Thika Utd | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 17 |
| 6. | Sher Karuturi | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 16 |
| 7. | Sony Sugar | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 14 |
| 8. | KCB | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 14 |
| 9. | Agro Chemical | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 17 |
| 10. | Ulinzi Stars | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| 11. | Gor Mahia | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| 12. | Western Stima | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| 13. | Mathare Youth | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 10 |
| 14. | Red Berets | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
| 15. | Bandari | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 8 |
| 16. | Mahakam | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 6 |
Panapress .
