NAIROBI, Kenya, May 31- The Kenya Premier League (KPL) takes a much deserved month long break with former champions Tusker FC on top of the table after an action packed four months.
The first leg of the 2010 season has experienced enough drama to fill two seasons with suspensions been dished all over the place and dramatic midweek games that would make Broadway envious.
Defending champions Sofapaka have been their source of the season’s subplots so far with the controversial dismissal of the Robert Matano in March and the suspension of assistant coach Bobby Ogolla and Edgar Ochieng for indiscipline.
Sam Ssimbwa’s side has also to contend with both continental and regional campaigns forcing them to postpone three of their matches which they will make up for over the next fortnight.
However, a net return of four wins, five draws and three wins is not the start to the season they were hoping for and they have their work cut out for them if they are to lift themselves out of their current tenth position.
Sides like Thika United and Western Stima who in the recent past have been seen as pretenders to the crown are languishing in the bottom half of the table while Ulinzi and Karuturi Sports are in the rarefied position of the top five thanks to blistering starts to the campaign.
Ulinzi together with Tusker have the meanest defence in the league justifying their second and first positions respectively while the brewers have the most prolific attack this term with 20 goals.
Despite being in third position, Mathare United will be forgiven for being the most frustrated side this season going by the number of draws (10) they have had to endure up and down the country though they have the envious record of being the only unbeaten team so far with five victories in the bag.
The six month suspension of Mathare tactician Francis Kimanzi seems to have done little to destabilize their rhythm and their recent form has put them clearly in the frame for the title when the season restarts.
Bottom side Mahakama and Red Berets cannot wait for the second leg of the season as it will be a chance to start on a new slate.
Mahakama who are favourites for the drop have only one victory and nine points to their name while Red Berets will undoubtedly use the break to jumpstart their season.
The perennial battle between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards is finely poised as both sides go into the break perched on fifth and sixth respectively.
Both teams have 21 points and have each won five, drawn six and lost 4 matches which makes the arm wrestle for supremacy even more intriguing.
The league resumes on July 10 with a photo finish expected at the end of the season.
