Kayole Asubuhi are the 2016 champions of the SportPesa Super 8 Premier League (SPS8 PL) after defeating a resilient Kiamaiko City 2-0 in a nail-biting encounter on Saturday 24 September at Drive-Inn grounds.
The Isaiah Omondi charges were crowned Nairobi champions after finishing the league on top with 64 points to take home the whooping Ksh 1 million award prize from the organizers Extreme Sports and title sponsors SportPesa.
It was a resounding victory for the East conference heavyweights who shrugged off fierce competition at the top from TUK and Jericho All Stars who were in contention.
Jericho put a show that guaranteed them second place with 62 points following a 3-1 rout of relegated Baba Dogo United at Camp Toyoyo grounds while defending champions TUK came down crushing 2-1 at the hands of a resurgent Metro Sports at Baba Dogo grounds to settle for third place with 60 points.
As a result of the outcome, Jericho All Stars walks away with Ksh 500,000 cash award for second place while TUK pocket Ksh 250,000.
In the match, a star performance from Tobius Olum steered Asubuhi to the victory. After a scoreless first half the forward broke the deadlock in the 58th minute for a second half lead that lasted until the 80th minute when he added the second with just ten minutes to go to bag all the three points.
“The game was very tough, the competition as well but the boys did a great job today. We are very happy because we have come a long way for this. The road has been rough for us the whole year, we have dedicated a lot of effort and energy and we have been rewarded. The league has been extremely competitive but we thank God we made it.” Kayole Asubuhi coach Isaiah Omondi said after the victory.
“We would like to thank Extreme Sports for a chance to show the world what Kayole can do; Extreme has given us a nice platform to showcase talent at the community level. As of now, we have not yet decided what do with the cash prize but we will sit down with the team and the rest of the officials and come up with something.” Omondi added.
Joel Mutua who is the team captain of Asubuhi could not hold back his joy after the win and congratulated his team mates for the job well done.
“Am extremely delighted with the win, we played as a unit and that brought us the victory. We knew we had to win the match because we have been training very hard the whole week so we could not afford to see it go to waste. We had no option but to win especially after making it this far. “ Mutua said.
As for Steven Kasamba who is in charge of Kiamaiko City, he was left disappointed but accepted the loss and praised his team for putting a spirited fight.
“It was a good game but sadly we lost concentration in the second half which led to the goals after holding them (Kiamaiko) in the first half. We are disappointed but the team did their best however luck is not on our side.” Kasamba remarked after the match.
For Kiamaiko City, they will have to fight for a chance in the main league next year as the devastating loss means they have been relegated to the SportPesa Super 8 Division One League which is the second tier of the competition. They finished at 14th in the 16 table league with 34 points meaning they are the second-last West conference team to face the drop after Shamako Babes.
OTHER RESULTS:
METRO SPORTS 2-1 TUK
Defending champions TUK were forced to settle for third place finish after being shocked 2-1 by stinging Metro Sports in another enticing match staged at Baba Dogo grounds.
Metro’s marksman Peter Ambetsa was the major upset engineer in the match after scoring the first goal in the 55th minute for a 1-0 that seemed destined to end that way until Ambetsa saved the situation in added minutes with a wonderful strike.
Jeconiah Uyoga scored the consolation for the university students who occupy second position with 62 points while Metro sit 5th with 50 points.
JERICHO ALL STARS 3-1 BABA DOGO UNITED
East conference powerhouse Jericho All Stars delivered resounding 3-1 win over relegated Baba Dogo United at Camp Toyoyo to go home with the Ksh 500,000 cash award for second best team in the league.
All Stars who were eyeing the league title were handed the lead in the 10th minute courtesy of Eddie Kuria whose goal was the main difference in the first half. Moments after the break, Tom Okoth extended the lead that lasted until the 70th minute when Jericho’s keeper Allan scored in his own net.
Combative left-back Maqbul Mohammed made sure Jericho completedted the campaign on high note after sealing the win at the stroke of full time for a deserved three points that saw them ascend to second position with 62 points.
Baba Dogo are axed to play in the second tier after managing 23 points in the overall standings but the last in the East conference.
SHAURI MOYO BLUE STARS 1-2 KABETE UNITED
At Makongeni grounds, Robert Orangi’s Kabete escaped the relegation axe by the skin of the teeth after pulling a miraculous 2-1 triumph over fancied Shauri Moyo Blue Stars.
The match was set on the pace immediately after the second half begun when Rahim Malik of Blue Stars opened the score sheet with a strike which was negated by Moriss Steve seven minutes later, sparking tempers in the deep in the second half.
It was the heroics of Paul Masiba who salvaged the boat for Kabete with a goal at the extra minutes which saw them climb up on 12th with 35 points at the expense of Kiamaiko who were beaten by Asubuhi.
But Blue Stars will seek revenge in the competition’s Champion League. They finished fourth with 55 points.
DIGUNA FC 2-3 MELTAH KABIRIA
Diguna FC from Rongai wasted a first half lead to sink 2-3 at the hands of fellow West siders Meltah Kabiria at Ngong grounds.
Sammy Agesa had given the visitors an early lead but Diguna equalized in the 27th minute through Kevin Mtarakwa before Clifford Otieno hit the mark fo r a first half advantage of 2-1.
Dalton Musa pulled one back for Melta seven minutes into the second half before team mate Wilson Muhoto sealed the deal for Mellta in the 80th minute handing them the three points that brings their tally to 46 at 7th position.
Diguna are ranked 9th with 29 points.
KAWANGWARE UNITED 4-0 KIAMBIU YOUTH
Veteran Kawangware layer coach Francis Thairu asserted his authority to claim the league top scorer after sinking a brace to steer Kawangaware United to the Sps8 Champions League after a 4-1 victory over rusty Kiambiu Youth.
Towering Thairu banged in the first goal after 23 minutes to spark the West conference army from Dagoretti into action. And just before the break he weaved his way through Kiambiu’s defense to score his second to go into the breather 2-0.
Upon resumption, Kiambiu could not yet again contain Thairu who completed his hat trick in the 49th minute to surpass Jeconiah Uyoga (TUK) 25 goal haul by a goal. Morris Otieno scored in his own net in the 65th minute after surrendering to intense pressure from the home team who held on the 4-0 lead until the final whistle.
The result sees Kawangware hopes for silverware in the competition revived as they qualified as the fourth team from the West conference. They ended their campaign with 41 points at position 9 while Kiambiu escaped relegation as they settled at 11th with 34 points.
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