This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Kenya, claiming 14 lives, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season hangs in the balance. Timothy Otieno, the league's top scorer, has expressed his concerns about the potential cancellation of the season, saying it would be unfair to the teams that have worked hard to achieve their goals.
With 10 matches remaining in the season, Otieno believes that the top four teams - Gor Mahia, Kakamega Homeboyz, Tusker, and Ulinzi Stars - should engage in a play-off to determine the season's champion. This, he argues, would be the fairest way to decide the winner, given that some teams have played more matches than others.
“Everyone is praying that the season resumes and we play the 10 remaining champions after this pandemic. I had set a target of 25 goals for the season and it is only achievable if we play all the matches,” said Otieno, who has captained Tusker in many games this season and leads the scoring chart with 15 goals.
Otieno's proposal has sparked debate among KPL teams, with some opposing the idea of a play-off. Tusker coach Robert Matano, for instance, has expressed his opposition to the idea of handing the title to Gor Mahia on a points basis, instead supporting the option of playing all the games.
As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the fate of the KPL season hangs in the balance, and the players, coaches, and fans are eagerly waiting for a resolution.
