Kakamega Homeboyz beat KCB in FKF PL
Kakamega Homeboyz beat KCB in search of a first-ever FKF Premier League (PL) title continued to gather pace on Sunday after beating fellow title contenders KCB 3-2 at the Kasarani Annex. The victory took Homeboyz to 31 points, five ahead of Nairobi City Stars who moved to second after beating struggling defending champions Tusker FC 1-0 at Ruaraka.
Homeboyz head coach Bernard Mwalala believes it is time Homeboyz upset the status quo of the big boys and take the title outside Nairobi for the first time since Ulinzi Stars did so in 2010.
“I am really pleased with the win and getting victory against a tough opponent like KCB is a statement from us,” Mwalala, a former Kenyan international stated.
He had added; “For the last almost 15 years, the league has all been about Gor Mahia and Tusker and teams from Nairobi dominating but we also want to change that and try win something for our people back at home.”
Homeboyz found themselves trailing early when Baraka Badi took the bankers into the lead from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Geoffrey Oputi had brought down Henry Onyango inside the box.
However, the hardworking victors drew level five minutes to the break through Yema Mwamba who finished off a pass from Moses Mudavadi.
Homeboyz went ahead for the first time in the game in the 50th minute when Eston Esiye, who had a brief stint with the bankers three seasons ago curled in a superb freekick.
Mwamba then completed his brace 10 minutes to full time with an easy tap in off a counter attack, with David Odhiambo putting the ball on a silver platter for him.
Despite Collins Odhiambo’s own goal four minutes to time that put KCB within touching distance of a point, Homeboyz held on for the vital three points.
-Nairobi City Stars stun Tusker-
Humphrey Mieno of Tusker FC vies for the ball with City Stars’ Ezekiel Odera
At the Ruaraka Complex, substitute Oliver Maloba scored in the 87th minute as City Stars moved to second with a 1-0 victory over Tusker FC, piling pressure on head coach Robert Matano. The defeat meant the defending champions have already lost half their matches this season.
Maloba struck on a sublime counter attack when put through by Timothy Ouma, beating Christopher Oruchum before hitting the ball into the net at the near post.
Tusker were lucky to have played the entire game with 10 men after an off the ball scuffle between Ibrahim Joshua and defender Salim Abdallah, with the two clashing heads as they waited for a freekick in an off the ball incident.
Abdallah had to require bandaging for the rest of the game but there was no card shown as neither the referee Davies Omweno nor his first assistant had seen the incident.
Tusker came close after 16 minutes when John Njuguna took on a long range shot on the volley. The ball took an awkward bounce infront of keeper Jacob Osano but the crossbar came to his rescue and he picked up the spills before Joshua could pounce.
Two minutes on the turn, City Stars should have been ahead when a long ball was planted behind the defense off a counter, but defender Christopher Oruchum made a timely tackle to poke the ball away just as Ouma was preparing to pull the trigger.
Tusker had some spell of dominance despite City Stars having dominated the midfield. In the 34th minute some beautiful interchange of passes at the edge of the box saw the home side create a good scoring chance, Deogratious Ojok flipping Lawrence Luvanda through but the winger’s shot was weak and the keeper easily gathered.
A minute later Njuguna was at the thick of things again and this time he let fly a superb volley on his favourite left foot but Osano punched the ball away. Ugandan Ojok had another chance, this time from a freekick, but his effort was punched away by Osano.
City Stars defender Kevin Okumu clears the ball under pressure from Tusker’s Deogratious Ojok
City Stars also had the crossbar denying them, this time from Dennis Wanjala’s freekick which curled to the top corner, but came off the frame of goal.
In the second half, Tusker made changes with Shami Kibwana coming in for Ojok, while Clyde Senaji was also later introduced for Humphrey Mieno and Stewart Omondi for Lawrence Luvanda.
Tusker however couldn’t change the face of the game and found themselves trailing with three minutes to go.
-Gor Mahia beat Talanta-
Elsewhere, Gor Mahia moved to third after a second successive win, beating FC Talanta 2-0 at Kasarani. Austin Odhiambo scored twice for K’Ogalo, who also welcomed back head coach Mark Harrison who had not returned from his Christmas break.
Gor are now on 25 points, one behind second placed City Stars and six away from leaders Homeboyz with the latter two having played a match more.
In other results, Bidco and Sofapaka played to a 1-1 draw at Kasarani while Vihiga Bullets and Bandari FC also recorded similar results in Kakamega.
At the Utalii Complex, Wazito FC bounced back to winning ways just after sacking head coach Francis Kimanzi after beating Nzoia Sugar 2-1.
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