- Kariobangi Sharks are now on 31 points after 18 matches
- Kenya Police are still underperforming despite marquee signings
- Tusker FC look to pick fourth win in five matches on Saturday
Despite continuing with their spending spree with marquee signings in the January transfer window, Kenya Police FC are yet to find their perfect footing and suffered yet another defeat on Friday evening, going down by a solitary goal to Kariobangi Sharks at Nyayo National Stadium.
Ronald Reagan Odede stepped off the bench to score the winner nine minutes into the second half, to push Police further down the rankings.
The Premier League new boys have brought on board forepower that includes Francis Kahata and Elvis Rupia as well as former Gor Captain Harun Shakava. While Rupia and Kahata played in the second half, Shakava was missing due to a contention over his transfer from Gor.
It was expected that with the new players, Police would be the new force in the hunt for the league title.
Police started the match well and had chances to score, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Clifton Miheso, the league’s top scorer with nine goals was a constant threat for Police, but most of his deliveries came to nothing.
Action between Sharks and Kenya Police
Sharks were forced to a change quarter of an hour before the break when Tom Teka joined the growing lost of injuries at the club and was replaced by Alphonce Omija.
In the second half, Police started as strongly as they did in the opening half and just four minutes in, Miheso forced Brandon Obiero in Sharks’ goal to a brilliant save from a freekick.
But two minutes on the turn it was Sharks who were away celebrating when Odede broke the deadlock with a simple finish inside the box, side footing the ball into the net after a neat cutback from the left.
After conceding, Police brought on Kahata and Rupia to save their attacking front. While the two added some punch into the final third, Sharks did not open up for a goal as they held on for the victory.
Meanwhile on Saturday more fixtures will be on the table.
At the Ruaraka Complex, defending champions Tusker FC will take on Ulinzi Stars as they look to continue with their new found form. After a difficult start to the season, the brewers have managed to pick 10 points out of a possible 12 from the last four matches.
Tusker FC keeper Patrick Matasi has kept four clean sheets in a row
Back to back wins against Bandari FC have raised the morale of the players and they will be looking to pick another three points against the military men who they beat 4-1 last time they met in June in Nakuru.
Midfielder Humphrey Mieno expects a tough duel when the two sides clashed, but remains confident they are in the right frame to harvest maximum points at home.
“We had been struggling to get back to back wins but now we have managed to balance on the right track. We need to take game at a time and maintain our focus,”
“It will be a tough challenge against Ulinzi because they have always been a difficult opponent. They have been changing their style of play to try and keep more of the ball in possession and play short passes but we will be ready to tackle them,” the midfielder told the club’s official website.
Ulinzi on their end have had a period of mixed results, winning one of their last five matches, last weekend’s 1-0 home victory against Wazito FC in Nakuru. They will look to bounce in with that energy for a vital win against the holders.
In other fixtures, Mathare United will be out to continue their bounce and pick back to back victories for the first time this season when they face league leaders Kakamega Homeboyz at Kasarani.
The Slum Boys pushed themselves off the bottom spot last weekend with a 2-0 win over Talanta FC in coach John Kamau’s first game in charge and he hopes he can inspire a second win, a morale boosting three points against Homeboyz.
The league leaders have registered three consecutive draws to see their lead on top of the standings squeezed, but Bernard Mwalala and his charges will be keen to get back into winning ways.
Elsewhere, Bidco United will be at home against Talanta while Wazito will be hosting Sofapaka at the Utalii Complex. In the late kick off at Kasarani, KCB will play Bandari FC, keen to rise into winning ways.
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