Miheso haunts former bosses as Police hold Gor Mahia

Gor Mahia remained top of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League standings on Saturday, but they were denied maximum points courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Kenya Police, their former player Clifton Miheso scoring the equalizer for the uniformed forces.

Boniface oMondi had scored the opener for K’Ogalo, but Police, coached by former Gor Mahia tactician and player John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla, and also captained by a former Gor skipper Musa Mohammed, scraped for a point.

“We played really well today and we should have won with the chances we had. We have conceded a very cheap goal and all this is because of inexperience. That is what is hurting our team at the moment. Most of these players are naïve because they have not played at this stage before,” a dejected Ogolla said after the match.

His opposite number Mark Harrrison also bore the same sentiments. “Our main problem is that we don’t use our chances. We should have won this game by five or six because we created so many opportunities but couldn’t bury them. It is a problem that we need to solve.”

Gor Mahia’s Yussuf Mainge battles for the ball with Kenya Police’s Duncan Otieno

Gor Mahia totally dominated the match especially in the opening period. Jules Ulimwengu should have broken the deadlock on the quarter hour mark, but he couldn’t get the right technique to hit the ball on target off a well laid cut back from Omondi.

Ugandan international Peter Lwasa also had a good chance for K’Ogalo when he raced into the box from the left with acres of space ahead of him, but his strike with a low shot was wide. Three minutes to the break, Gor had another good chance when Ernest Wendo headed Lwasa’s deep freekick to Omondi’s path.

The striker’s rasping shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off a forest of legs inside the box wrongfooting the keeper, but went inches wide.

George Odhiambo wins the ball during Gor Mahia’s match against Kenya Police

Police had two good chances in the opening half, despite playing on the back foot for most of it. Gor keeper Adama Traore made two brilliant back to back saves in the 38^th minute. On a counter, Alvin Mang’eni broke into the box before curling in a shot that was parried away by the Malian keeper.

Miheso picked up the rebound, created space for himself but his eventual shot was once again saved by the custodian.

At the stroke of halftime, Mang’eni was at the end of another Police chance when he broke away on the left, slapped in a low cross but John Mark Makwatta couldn’t time his run to perfection as he missed the connection by inches with only the keeper to beat.

In the second half, Gor started with as much pace as they did the first half and eight minutes in, they had their goal.

Police defender Bernard Omondi delayed with a clearance on the right and was dispossessed by George Odhiambo who floated in a cross into the box that was headed in by Omondi at the backpost.

Duncan Otieno of Kenya Police vies for the ball with Gor Mahia’s Fred Nkata

But, Police responded just 10 minutes later when Miheso’s freekick from the right bounced all the way into the net when Makwatta’s run caught keeper Traore off in two minds and failed to follow the lateral of the ball.

Gor tried all they could to get the lead back and they almost did in the 69^th minute when Police keeper Bonphas Munyasa spilled the ball at the feet of Austine Odhiambo who had come on as a sub, but skipper Mohammed made a brilliant block to deny him a yard from goal.

Gor were forced into a sub with Frank Odhiambo coming on for Harun Shakava who had picked an injury while the record champions also brought in Benson Omalla for Ulimwengu.

Omalla almost made an immediate impact when he picked up the ball on the left, took a rasping snap shot from distance but it flew just wide. Odhiambo also came close for Gor with a freekick from 30 yards out but it went just over.

Police almost took the lead with eight minutes left when substitute Frank lost the ball cheaply and Police turned play to attack. Makwatta raced to the ball on the right but instead of going for goal chose to cross to Erick Kipkurui who arrived late to the ball.