Kenya Football .:. Story - Kpl League Gains Momentum As Sofapaka Bite The Dust

By KF Correspondents.

The Kenya Premier League (KPL) took a different twist on saturday with defending Champions Sofapaka suffering their first defeat.It was a sweet outing for Kenya Commercial Bank(KCB) who won their third straight win with newly promoted Posta Rangers finding the going tough with a lackluster barren draw against the visiting Ulinzi Stars at the Nairobi City Stadium.

Victory yet again eluded Red Berets who went down fighting 2-1 to the well-drilled Western Stima in a thrilling encounter shown live by KPL sponsors Super Sports TV Channel at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

Red Berets.....................1
Western Stima................2

Red Berets misery continued unabated succumbing to a disappointing 2-1 loss to the visiting Western Stima at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.
Berets however took a 55th minute lead through Joseph Asudza after being put through by Gabriel Nduro .Pressing for an equaliser,the visitors waged attack after attack that resulted into two quick goals scored by Brian Masiolo and Wisley Kemboi in the 75th and 88th minute respectively.

KCB..............2
Sofapaka........1

Defending Kenya Premier League(KPL) Champions Sofapaka were given a rude welcome to the local scene after being bundled out of the CAF Champions League with a 2-1 defeat from stubborn Kenya Commercial Bank(KCB) in a lively tie staged at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The fair crowd that turned up for the clash were treated with some eye-catching football but were left disappointed with the way players from both teams threw away goal scoring chances at ease.
Indeed, the Bankers who squeezed their third consecutive victory after defeating Posta Rangers (1-0), AFC Leopards (2-0) and Sofapaka (2-1) deserved to win the match.It could have been a massive disaster for the Bankers if they could have lost the match after squandering over five clear chances with the biggest culprits being Daniel Waweru,Oscar Livondo and Job Endriseh in the second half.

After a barren first half,the defending Champions took the lead in the 54th minute when Anthony Kimani was set though by Humphrey Mieno before chipping the ball past diving KCB custodian Daniel Oluoch.

Encouraged, Sofapaka had a second goal scored through a header by Bob 'Semenya” Mugalia in the 58th minute but was ruled offside by referee Aggrey Demesi from Nakuru.

Sensing danger, the Bankers made two quick substitutions by resting captain Yusuf Abubaker ,Oscar Livondo and Dan Waweru and brought in Tonny Onguru, Ezekiel Odera and Geoffrey Shikanda who brought instant remedy for the Bankers poor finish upfront.

Odera broke into a bush of defenders to grab the opener for the Bankers in the 85th minute from Onguru's pass to beat Sofapaka custodian Wilson Oburu.But before Sofapaka defenders could settle down, the Bankers extended their lead two minutes later through Geoffrey Maina who headed brilliantly Samuel Olare's thrown in.

Sofapaka coach Robert Matano bemoaned overconfidence and lack of seriousness as the reason behind the loss. "We lost fairly. I have no complain to raise.My boys must wake up.Every game should be a final but my players treated the match as a friendly.They played substandard game and showed over confidence.It has served as a lesson to my team but we shall come back with a bang in our next subsequent matches," Observed Matano after the final whistle.

His KCB counterpart Leonard Salleh was all smiles “We give God all the glory. We are building a new team with a new approach which is paying dividends. We saw Sofapaka slow down their pace in the dying minutes and my substitutions took that advantage to score the two goals. We plan differently according to our opponents and I believe we shall maintain the same performance," quipped Salleh.

Line-ups-KCB-16.Daniel Oluoch,4.Joseph Kangata,6.Robert Syongo,12.Joseph Apindi,3.Samuel Olare,14.Michael Oyando,10.Geoffrey Maina,11.Yusuf Abubakar(capt)(25.Tonny Onguru 59th min,),9.Oscar Livondo(15.Geoffrey Maina74th min),17.Job Endriseh,19.Daniel Waweru(23.Ezekiel Odera 72ndmin).
Subs(Not used)-22.Caleb Adola, 13.Abdul Malik,5. Mark Sanchez,20.Eugene Asike.
Coach Leonard Salleh,

Referee Aggrey Demesi(Nakuru).

Sofapaka-29.Wilson Oburu,7.Thomas Wanyama,6.Idrissa Rajab,5.Edgar Ochieng,15.Kilonzo Tumba(16.Mike Khamadi 66th min),14.James Situma(Capt)(3.Nicholas Muyoti 46th min),20.Humphrey Mieno,11.Anthony Kimani,8.Laurent Tumba(17.Salim Khamis 46th min), 12.John Barasa,9.Bob Mugalia .

Subs(Not used)-27.George Opiyo,23.Robson Dondo,22.Evans Wandera,24.Abbas Akinyemi.

Coach Robert Matano,
Team Manager Benson Matindi.

Posta Rangers...............0
Ulinzi Stars....................0

Debutants Posta Rangers remained win less with another barren draw against Ulinzi Stars at the Nairobi City Stadium.

Rangers coached by Peter Ambetsa squandered several clear chances with the biggest culprit being Oscar Olwith and Jacob Opere in the dying minutes.

Chemelil Sugar …................0
Sony Sugar............................1

After holding Mathare United to a scoreless draw last weekend in Nairobi, Chemelil Sugar failed to make home-ground count after they went down 1-0 to the visiting Sony Sugar.

Marwa Chamberi scored the all important goal in the 40th minute from a goal-mouth melee.

Ends.