Gor thrash Vihiga Bullets as Premier League resumes
FKF Premier League is back in action after a well-deserved international break. League leaders Gor Mahia intrepidly thrashed relegation-bound Vihiga Bullets five-nil to remain on top of the table in an empty Kasarani stadium.
Gor’s coach Johnathan McKinstry, expeditiously fielded their new signings Sylvester Otieno, Austin Odhiambo and Patrick Kaduu. This is after FIFA lifted the transfer ban following disputes between Gor and Ghanaian midfielder Jackson Owusu, Malian goalkeeper Adama Traore.
New signing Patrick Kaduu announced his arrival by taking the match ball home after bagging a hat trick in the second half. It’s Austin Oduor who opened the scoring with a sumptuous free-kick beating an on-rushing Vihiga keeper in the 20th minute.
Five minutes later, another Ugandan import Peter Lwassa latched on the ball from a corner kick to make it 2:0 before halftime. Premier League top scorer Ben Omalla after being dropped from the Harambee Stars squad that lost 2:1 to Iran started from the bench replacing limping Lwassa in the 2nd half.
On the other side of town at Nyayo Stadium, AFC Leopards clawed their way to victory by silencing Bandari FC by a solitary goal. Ola ‘Kingsley’ Ojaniyi 68th minute powerful left-foot shot made all the difference bringing his tally to six goals this season.
The win pushes coach Patrick Aussem’s side to third place with 38 points, a point shy of 2nd placed and Tusker. In Ruaraka, with a game in hand, former champions Tusker fried Bidco United 3:1 to pile pressure on Gor who are 6 points ahead.
Earlier on Tuesday, Nzoia shocked Ulinzi FC side at Sudi grounds in Bungoma with a single goal from danger man Yassin Seje silencing Mwalala’s guns and extending their winless streak to three matches.
The win moves Nzoia to fourth position on the log lipping the resurgent Kenya Police FC whose match versus Sofapaka was postponed to a later date.
On to #SimbaWaNairobi derby, City Stars beat Mathare Utd by a whopping 3:0 asserting their authority as to who matters in the city in terms of football this season.
A brace from Kelvin Etemesi and a goal from substitute Newton Ochieng made City move from the relegation zone instead condemning the Mathare Utd alias slum boys to 18th position exposing them to a possible relegation reality by the end of the season.
On other results, Posta Rangers had a comfortable 2:0 win vs 14th-placed Talanta FC. In Bukhungu Stadium, a 0:0 draw saw KCB FC get an away draw against Kakamega Homeboys. Kariobangi Sharks drew 2:2 versus Wazito FC.
It’s, however, worrying that these games haven’t been able to attract fans to the stands. FKF league teams have been silently undergoing financial difficulties due to their inability to raise enough revenue for their day-to-day running.
Empty stadiums should be a testament enough that Nick Mwendwa’s team at FKF has a Herculean task of returning Kenyan soccer to its lost glory.
