FKFPL goal scoring record sparks fresh controversy: 27 or 26 goals?

The initial controversy has always been on Boniface Ambani's alleged 26 goals record. Now, it is against Elvis Rupia. 26 or 27?

As the title race intensified on Wednesday 21 June 2023, the battle for the top scorer did so as well with Kenya Police FC striker Elvis Rupia getting ahead of Gor Mahia's Benson Omala.

Rupia netted a brace against Vihiga Bullets at the Police Pavillion Grounds to take his tally to 26 goals for the campaign, one more than Omala.

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The Gor Mahia talisman has endured a goals dry spell in the past six matches and has not found the back of the net since scoring a brace against FC Talanta at the end of April.

With the advantage over Omala, Rupia faces a tough task on the last day of the season against KCB while Omala will be up against Nairobi City Stars.

However, a list released by the Football Kenya Federation Premier League on Wednesday placed Rupia's tally at 27 goals and not 26.

A spot check by Mozzart Sport revealed that was not the only error on the list, with also the total goals on the list not tallying with the total number of goals scored as they appear on the league standings.

As at round 33, the total number of goals scored in the league stands at 655, but the list had a tally of 652, including eight own goals.

Nzoia Sugar's midfielder Joseph Mwangi has scored a total of 14 goals but the list indicates 15 goals for him. In a chat, Mwangi acknowledged he has scored 14 goals, netting five times against Wazito, thrice against Posta Rangers, twice against Vihiga Bullets, Kariobangi Sharks, and once against Kenya Police and Mathare United.

The same document lists Mathare United's defender Fidel Otieno as a Nairobi City Stars player.

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Back to Rupia, he opened his goal account for the season during the one-all draw with Sofapaka at Kasarani Annex in December, then followed it up with another goal against Wazito as the Law Enforcers won 4-0.

A successful penalty conversion against Kariobangi Sharks saw him take his tally to three, scoring for the third time in a row.

What followed would be a brace against Posta Rangers, and a 15-minute hattrick against Tusker FC in January. He then netted a goal in each of the matches against Mathare, Bidco United, FC Talanta, and Gor Mahia to finish the first leg with 12 goals in 17 matches, an impressive number despite blanking in the opening five rounds.

The second half kicked off with a bang as he scored against Kariobangi Sharks and Nzoia Sugar followed by a brace against Nairobi City Stars, a goal against Vihiga Bullets, and another one against Bandari to wrap up April.

In May, he grabbed a brace against Bidco United and a goal in each of the matches against Mathare United and Ulinzi Stars.

Omala, Rupia locked in heated Golden Boot race with only two matches to go

With sight on the golden boot at the start of May after closing the gap between him and Omala to just 3 goals, 22 against 25, Rupia has switched different gears and scored two braces in as many matches against Posta Rangers and Vihiga Bullets to leapfrog Omala on 26 goals heading into the last game of the campaign.

Out of the 33 matches that Police have played this season, Rupia has scored in 19 of those and he could make it 20 on Sunday against KCB.

In those 19 matches, Police have only lost once when he has scored, winning in 14 matches and sharing the spoils four times.

He has managed to score against 14 of the 17 opponents in the league apart from AFC Leopards, Kakamnega Homeboyz, and KCB whom he has a chance against on Sunday.

So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, Rupia has scored 26 goals so far this season and not 27 as FKF PL claims.