By Fredrick Nadduli ,
Tusker are champions of the Sportpesa Premier League 2016 and the GOtv Shield, a rare double.
The now 11 times Kenya champions were declared winners with a hard fought gritty win over an unrelenting AFC Leopards at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, a venue that holds nostalgic memories for the beer makers of Ruaraka. Defending champions Gor Mahia are guaranteed second spot, having pushed Tusker to the wire in a ping pong season full of drama.
While Gor and Tusker battled for honors at the top, City Stars and Sofapaka spent the entire football year stuck in a rut, rooted at the foot of the table standings hardly ever able to free themselves from the dreaded trap door.
And while City Stars have already confirmed their place in the National Super League – NSL, Sofapaka are prime candidates for relegation as well, depending on other results for their ultimate survival, a really sticky situation.
WOBBLY MARCH
Tusker may have snatched the title from Gor after the latter’s dominance in three consecutive seasons, but they did it without a wholly convincing performance to stake their claim. With all due respect, even their top management by admission and die hard fanatics were not convinced with their team’s stuttering march towards the coveted crown.
Often times they wobbled and almost ground to a halt. Only Gor Mahia’s uncharacteristic ineptitude allowed them to maintain top spot for the better part of 2016.
With the stakes ever so high and when it seemed Gor would dethrone them from top spot, the team in green shot themselves in the foot, much to the relief of Paul Nkata’s side.
In hindsight, the mid-season acquisition of striker Allan Wanga proved a tactical masterstroke. The journeyman, who has seen his professional club football take him to Angola, Sudan, Tanzania and even further afield in Vietnam weighed in with a priceless contribution, notching crucial goals and providing vital assists when Tusker’s frontline appeared stubbornly barren as the second leg got underway.
The reincarnation of winger Noah Wafula was timely as well. The former Leopards man underwent a rebirth of sorts after getting plenty of stick, running defenders rugged down the right channel when critics were busy bogging him down. He preferred to let his football do the talking.
Generally what made the Ruaraka based side tick was their overall team performance. While Wanga got the most crucial of goals, players from other departments also weighed in with theirs. Defenders Lloyd Wahome and Shafik Batambuze got on the scoresheet from time to time, as did midfielders Humphrey Mieno, Anthony Ndolo and Clifford Alwanga while Osborne Monday, George Mandela, Hashim Sempala, Martin Kizza and Robert Omonuk all provided the much needed stability and flair in their respective departments. Not even injuries to key defenders Eugene Asike and James Situma made them lose sight of the crown. Admittedly, the man who solely carried Tusker on his shoulders was goalkeeper David Okello.
With several monthly club awards under his belt to underline his contribution, the shot stopper was credited for keeping the club in the running for the marathon league. Week in week out of top drawer saves ensured Tusker maintained top spot and most importantly mental sanity from the ever lurking Gor Mahia, shadowing their every move.
The fatherly touch of Paul Nkata provided the final tonic for their triumph, the coach often times coming under heavy criticism with calls for his sacking as the season wore on ringing hollow in their camp. Winning the GOtv Shield meant the Ugandan achieved a rare double in his debut season at the club, and gave Tusker the spur to claim top honors in the championship.
GOR PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE
Coming to 2016, Gor Mahia had won the league three times on the trot, and were on the verge of history chasing their fourth unprecedented title. Coincidentally it was Tusker who snatched the title from under their noses in 2012, winning it on the last day at World Hope when Gor faltered at City Stadium against Thika United.
Granted, Gor played some sleek football this season under Brazilian legend Jose Marcelo Ferreira. They let go of Frank Nuttal at the beginning of the season with the league still in its infancy stages, the Scot decamping to Egypt when the club management chucked him overboard.
The team struggled in the absence of top scorer Michael Olunga who was shipped to Sweden. The much touted acquisition of Police hitman Jacques Tuyisenge as direct replacement for Olunga for some time placated the club faithful, until the 4 million shilling man got injured in pre-season and disappeared off the radar much to the chagrin of the Green Army. Not even the detour of blue eyed boy Meddie Kagere to partner his fellow countryman appeared to work. The returnee struggled to find his hitherto nimble feet and although the partnership flourished in the latter stages of the league, the proverbial die was already cast.
Coach Ze Maria arrived at the club eager to instill the Brazilian flair into the side. Gor played some silky football under his tutelage and to his credit the gaffer kept faith in young players, blooding rookies like Eric Ouma and Amos Nondi, both going on to make it to the Kenya national senior team the Harambee Stars.
But it is in midfield that the team bore the greatest grunt, especially after the departure of maestro Khalid Aucho to Scotland and later South Africa. Talented midfield general and war horse Collins Okoth customarily fell out with the coach in the most crucial of stages, when Gor badly needed their top players to maintain the race on Tusker’s heels. Okoth went AWOL on the club and although Ernest Wendo was called upon to replace him, the youngster could not fully muster the large shoes of the veteran.
Consequently the team struggled with a makeshift midfield that had Francis Kahata, Godfrey Walusimbi and George Odhiambo running the show. When Okoth eventually rebuilt his bridges with the manager and returned to the side, his contribution was immense but a tad too late in the day for the defending champions.
They notched up crucial wins along the way, and particularly against Mathare United at Nyayo Stadium in a game that would surely go down as the most entertaining of season 2016.
Only Tusker’s late surge and resilience prevented them going all the way.
Losing the Top 8 Cup to Muhoroni Youth, a team they ordinarily beat on any day, somewhat underlined the feared fact Gor’s football gods were on a sabbatical.
In the final at Nyayo, they toyed with their opponents, dominated proceedings, did everything but score. Muhoroni got a single sight of goal and delivered the heavy sucker punch to bag their first ever silverware in Kenya’s top flight. Gor were meanwhile left licking their wounds for what might have been.
CHASING PACK
Former champions Ulinzi Stars will be forgiven for having a rough season. The Nakuru based army side was in the chasing pack on all fronts, firing on all cylinders until their revered coach Robert Matano was taken seriously ill. With their manager aptly nicknamed ‘The Lion’ incapacitated, the Pride lacked direction, and this was evidenced in their perfomances under stand-in coach Benjamin Nyangweso.
Perhaps Matano’s forced absence played in their minds, but the military side did its best to play for him, probably as homage to their bed-ridden leader. And as luck favors the brave, the Lanet soldiers will play in the 2017 edition of the Africa Cup Winners Cup, chance favoring them by virtue of being losing finalists to league champions Tusker in the GOtv Shield, the Ruaraka side apparently opting for the more lucrative CAF Champions’ League.
Chemelil Sugar exceeded expectations for the season. They are guaranteed a top 5 slot. The team from the sugar belt region of Kenya has surprised all and sundry, not least themselves, by competing with the big boys on a lean bench and scant resources. Coach Francis Baraza, a battle hardened player in his days, appears to thrive in the countryside.
He has previously enjoyed success at Sony Sugar and Muhoroni Youth, his football managing journey taking him deep into the Nyanza regions. The soft spoken tactician has relied more on team work as opposed to star names, evergreen Hillary Echesa plying his craft in the middle of the pack. A final day victory over Mathare will ensure they wrap up the league in position three.
Western Stima had their blueprint laid out bare at the start of the season, and they have literally fulfilled the script. This is a side known for their giant killing act, and teams like AFC Leopards shudder at the prospect of facing this team from Western Kenya. Coach Henry Omino once infamously retorted that beating Leopards was a hobby he relished, making good his statement by whipping the big cats the following evening in a league fixture at Kasarani. They made their Mumias Complex home ground a fortress. Under the league’s elder statesman Omino, Stima has confounded friends and foes alike.
What brought success their way was their almost 85% victory rating at home coupled with fine results on the road. They played open, attacking football irrespective of the venue. In Kenneth Muguna, they have a matchmaker capable of fitting snugly into any midfieldof Kenya’s leading teams.
Besides Gor Mahia, the other team that played beautiful attacking football is Mathare United. The Slum Boys had a very good run at the beginning of the season, swimming with the sharks and holding their own against very strong opposition.
They were even given a slightly outside chance of winning the title for only the second time in their history after 2008. Francis Kimanzi took back charge of the side he played for from Stanley Okumbi and made surprise changes, releasing veterans Edgar Ochieng and Noah Abich among others in a move pundits opined would backfire badly. He kept faith in a largely youthful squad that was spiced with only two additions from the old order, Center-back George Owino and Goalkeeper Wycliffe Kasaya. Their major undoing was dropping too many points by way of draws, which widened the gap twixt them and the top dogs. They gradually fell off the pace, showing occasional flashes of brilliance that earned them rave reviews. Defender Robinson Kamura, a brilliant Stopper but at times error prone, was pushed by Kimanzi into midfield where he thrived. He was their toast man with perfect deliveries from set plays and scored a contender for goal of the season, a 35 yard cracker against City Stars when Mathare seemed dead and buried. Their 2-2 comeback draw against relegation candidates Sofapaka signified their inconsistency and inability to kill off games they are touted to win. Their gem Eric Johana shone for the national team than club this season.
Posta Rangers came into the season as one of the newly promoted sides from the National Super League.
This was a side littered with big names sprinkled across all departments. They even roped in veteran Jockins Atudo to shore up their already strong back line. Owing to their massively experienced side, many expected them to easily ride in the league despite having just been promoted.
With a rich technical bench that comprised Zedekiah Otieno and George Maina, they started very well, but gradually withered as the games progressed.
Gor Mahia loanee Timothy Otieno demonstrated his capabilities with some fine displays. Joseph Mbugi was their main actor in midfield and indefatigable Atudo did not disappoint at the heart of defense. However with their numerous slip ups and reports of simmering rows in the side, the rugged terrain that is the Kenyan Premier League proved unforgiving, claiming Zico and his deputy Maina, both ignominiously shown the door as pressure came down to bear on the Postmen.
Kakamega Homeboyz swung back and forth like a pendulum the entire season. They blew hot and cold leaving their ardent followers at a loss not knowing what to make of their fancied side. Bookmakers however believe their mid table finish is worth the while, seeing that they operated on a very limited budget.
The self-sustaining club, under the tutelage of former Kenya midfielder Mike Mururi was largely made up of players considered surplus to requirements elsewhere.
The likes of Athman Buki, Andrew Murunga and Meshack Karani have all played their football for teams outside Kakamega. ‘Abana Abeingo’ will take lots of positives from their 2016 campaign going forward.
Bandari had a season to forget. From riding very high in 2015 even representing Kenya in the continentals, the Dockers fell from grace to grass. Littered with big names, the Mombasa based side had lots of baggage to rid itself of. The team was deeply mired in politics that took away most of their shine. Veteran tactician Twahir Muhiddin was sacked after some horrible displays to be replaced by his assistant Ken Odhiambo. He took over with the usual gusto of a fresh man in charge, notching up some wins along the way before familiarity soon caught up with them and they relapsed back to losing ways.
They even ceded their GOtv Shield to sum up a dreadful year for them. For a team with the likes of goalkeeper Wilson Obungu, Felly Mulumba, Musa Mudde, David Kingatua, Shaban Kenga and Danny Sserunkuma, a bottom table finish for them is unacceptable for their hard-to-please coast fans and an end year postmortem will most likely see big heads roll ahead of 2017.
What more can be said about Sony Sugar? This is a team that over the years has had the habit of giving Nairobi teams incessant headaches. Their Green Stadium is a dreadful place to visit. Ask any player.
This year however they put up some very lukewarm displays. Away sides no longer dread their visits to Awendo. This was exemplified by champions-elect
Tusker who strolled into town, subdued their hosts and left the hostile sugar belt with three priceless points at the height of their neck and neck battle with Gor Mahia for the diadem.
Sony is a team best left to locals if anyone understands their dynamics. Diaspora coaches for instance hardly survive more than half a season in Awendo.
Coach Salim Babu, a former player for them, appears to understand the team very well, but fell far short of minimal expectations this time round. It remains to be seen whether a thorough club audit will reveal some loopholes crying out to be sealed.
Apart from their giant killing act against Gor Mahia in the Top 8 Knockout Final, Muhoroni Youth has been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Their players staged a sit in and marched in single file to Nairobi to lodge their complaints with the Kenya Premier League Limited.
They were protesting about unpaid monies and other grievances, key among them harassment from goons sent by club Chairman Moses Adagala. Unconfirmed reports have played all over alleging Adagala runs the club at his own behest, with no single soul intrepid enough to stand up to his antics. He fired James Omondi to replace him with Gor legend John Bobby Ogolla. He did not last and soon made way for Tom Juma. If this modus operandi is anything to go by, the country has not seen the worst of Muhoroni Youth, yet.
James Nandwa has steered Thika United with his usual cool mien. This is a team renowned for its emphasis on youth development therefore their rather low ranking is unlikely to set alarm bells ringing.
However some players stood up to be counted, players of the caliber of Eugene Mukangula and Roy Odhiambo before he left for studies in England. They are likely to carry on with their youth policy unfazed by places in the league. For as long as they maintain their top flight status, which never appeared under any threat anyway, they are game.
RELEGATION DOG FIGHT
Pity the once mighty AFC Leopards. This Kenyan giant has attained the notorious reputation of firing coaches with reckless abandon. They came into the league breathing fire and brimstone, vowing to break archrivals Gor Mahia’s dominance on the local scene. They were well on course, until their biblical devil returned to the scene and threw a spanner into the works.
At one point they were top on the table standings, basking in their short lived glory. Then the free fall begun, and there existed no brakes strong enough to stop the plunge. In entirety, they were handled by no less than four coaches in 2016, with disastrous results. Then emerged reports of player mutiny that made an already bad situation worse. Club elections eased off the tension somewhat, but the general perception was that the club was deep in limbo.
Always teetering in the relegation zone with no clear guidelines on promotion and relegation, they are safe, but only just. They cannot wait for the season to end and do a deep soul search. Their defeat by Tusker confirmed the beer makers as champions.
Ushuru is by assumption one of Kenya’s well financed sides, but their lowly position in the league betrays this thinking.
Their coach Ken Kenyatta is considered archaic, aloof and arrogant all rolled into one. Records indicate they are at their usual best when playing the big boys, more so Gor Mahia.
Their best match was against them at Nyayo in early August, restricting the defending champs to a barren draw in a gritty match.
Thereafter they were either walloped or escaped with single points in subsequent games. The hard cold fact is that many wish they could lose their final league fixture and Sofapaka survive instead.
It looks almost certainly au revoir for Sofapaka. The team that won the league on its debut season straight from the lower tier appear to have enough rope to hang themselves. Bankrolled by wealthy club president Elly Mboni Kalekwa, they seem to have finally hit a dead end after spending the entire season in the lower reaches of the league.
They recruited massively in mid-season, doing away with 90% of their team to make way for veterans approached from other clubs. Coach David Ouma signed the likes of Noah Abich, Jafar Gichuki, Moses Odhiambo and returnee Johnson Bagoole in a spirited attempt to rescue the club from the inevitable chop. The team stabilized and got a couple of unimagined wins to give themselves hope.
It would however prove a tall order as their destiny was not firmly in their hands. A 2-2 draw against Mathare threw a spanner into their works. Ouma jumped ship and veteran John Baraza assumed the reins midway through the second leg.
They must now pray for an Ushuru falter coupled with their own victory on the final day to guarantee survival. Their destiny is not in their hands.
City Stars have flirted with relegation for close to three seasons now, always escaping the big drop in Houdini acts. Their nine lives finally ran out this season when the trap door opened wide under their very feet. Take nothing away from them, they at times played magnificent football. With players of the caliber of John Amboko, Frank Osama, Jimmy Bageya and Ezekiel Odera one wonders what they had to do to avoid the chop. Their financial worries were compounded by the high turnover of coaches, from Bobby Ogolla to Richard Pinto Tamale to Dennis Okoth. They go down with arguably the goal of the season candidate, Odera’s crisp flick against Gor Mahia at the Nyayo National Stadium ranking as a collector’s item.
