Gor Mahia head coach Jonathan McKinstry reckons the Kenyan Premier League is among the toughest in the region.
In an interview with Gor TV on Thursday, McKinistry admitted it was difficult to predict which club would clinch the season even as his charges took a strategic position for a successful title defence after storming the KPL summit over the weekend.
"I think the Kenyan league is the most competitive I've seen in a long time. I've been to Rwanda, and Uganda and there tend to be two or three teams competing at the top. Even in Ghana, there tends to be two or three teams competing at the top," McKinistry remarked.
"Whilst here, I think in this season the top six or seven are only separated by three or four points. So it is ultra-competitive," he added. McKinstry said their action-packed thriller against Kariobangi Sharks captured the essence of a viciously -contested top-flight fixture pitting a behemoth against a minnow
."We were second in the standings when we played 13-placed Kariobangi Sharks at Machakos Stadium last Sunday and the match was very competitive for the entire 90 minutes. We had to score a goal in the 91st minute to claim all the points."
According to the tactician, Kenyan pitches are nothing short of an eyesore, and they do little to raise the level of the game in the country. "It's been said many times before that facilities are a big factor. It's not just match facilities, we want the pitches that the games are played on to be of as high quality as possible.
"All KPL teams should be training on good pitches that are not only available when needed but also affordable. You go to Rwanda, for example, when they hosted the CHAN Championships in 2016, they took that as a moment of advancement not just to upgrade their stadium but also to build artificial and grass pitches all around the country."
He urged the relevant authorities to give local facilities the much-needed facelift before the eagerly-awaited 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
"Now here in Kenya, we are due to host the Africa Cup of Nations, and CHAN. The legacy of this is that we should have at least 10 quality training facilities," McKinstry said.
K'Ogalo, currently sitting pretty atop the KPL log, will hope to consolidate their position at the summit when they face Nzoia Sugar at the Raila Odinga stadium, Homabay in their next match on Saturday.
In other KPL Round 14 fixtures set for Saturday, KCB have a date with Talanta FC at Police Sacco Stadium, Nairobi.
Muranga Seal will dare Ulinzi Stars at St. Sebastian's Park in Murang'a as Nairobi City Stars lock horns with Bandari at Ruaraka grounds.
On Sunday, Bidco United dare AFC Leopards to a vicious duel at Moi stadium, Kasarani as Shabana take the battle to Kakamega Homeboyz at Bukhungu Stadium.
