By Bonface Osano,

Kenyan Premier League week 15 went down over the weekend marking the end of an entertaining and  enthralling first leg as the league takes three weeks break.

Two matches highlights the action packed weekend; AFC Leopards resilience in the face of adversity left no doubt that the human spirit is indomitable while Gor’s clinical triumph over Tusker asserted the biblical saying that when you persistently knock then the door will open.

Saturday 6th June

Western Stima 0-1 Ushuru FC (Moi Stadium)

Ugandan striker Allan Katerrega for the umpteenth time this season came off the bench to prove he is an impact player, netting the lone goal in the second half to give the Tax Men maximum points away in Kisumu.

“We played well today. We subdued Stima and looked the best side. We now need to take a good break and start preparations for second leg.” Buoyant Ushuru coach Ken Kenyatta told Soka25east.com

Stima Coach Henry Omino on the other side believed they deserved better, “A draw could have been better, losing maximum points is a nightmare to our players and technical bench.”

Ushuru finished the first leg on a high at position six on the log with Stima closing the top five.

Gor Mahia FC 1-0 Tusker FC (Moi Stadium)

Gor Mahia’s near perfect run in the first leg of the league culminated in a 1-0 clinical dismissal of Tusker in a highly tactical and fascinating match before a fully packed crowd at the Moi Stadium. The reigning champions heads into the league breather with a few records under their belt; K’Ogalo finished the 15 fixtures unscathed, winning twelve, drawing three and scoring a whooping 30 goals in the process.

“K’Ogalo” sits pretty at the top of the log enjoying a healthy 12 points cushion with a total of 39 points and a goal difference of 24. Two of Gor’s players, Ali Abondo and Meddie Kegere tops the scoring chart with 9 goals a piece.

Tusker Coach Francis Kimanzi  is a man whose future at the Ruaraka side is highly uncertain, and his body language showed after the bitter loss. The Brewers are a massive 17 points a drift of the leaders and are effectively out of the title race.

Kimanzi believes he lost to a better side, “We lost to a better side. Gor are currently enjoying top form, the gave us a good game.”

Muhoroni Youth 0-0 Chemelil FC (Muhoroni Stadium)

The Awasi Derby left fans underwhelmed and yearning for more as the two sides produced a dull game to settle for the barren draw. Muhoroni who ringed changes in the squad ahead of the match, taking advantage of the just opened transfer window to beef up technical bench and squad still could not sparkle against the sworn rivals.

The draw saw Muhoroni slides into the relegation zone for the first time this season with a negative 13 goal difference as their poor show in the first leg persisted.  Chemelil is placed 11th with 15 points.

Sony Sugar FC 0-1 City Stars (Awendo Green Stadium)

City Stars shocked Sony at home with a 1-0 win that saw the Paul Nkata coached side crawl out the the relegation zone, a place they have made home since last season for the first time in many months.

Ebrimah Sanneh’s strike in the 22nd minute made all the difference to hand the Kawangware based side their second win of the season as they head into the mid break heads high and hopeful of a better show in the second leg.

The loss for Sony compounded  un characteristically poor first leg for the Awendo side known for strong start in the league. They find themselves in un familiar territory at position 12 with 15 points.

Nakuru All Stars 0-0 Mathare United (Afraha Stadium)

All Stars will most certainly be soul searching during the mid season break to try and find a solution to the terrible season they have had so far, hoping it is not too late to change the strong tide.
The draw is Stars’ fourth on the trot as Coach Peter Okidi sought to avoid more defeats before the break. They remain deeply rooted in the danger zone with negative 22 goal difference.

Mathare United finishes in the ninth position with 20 points, probably their best in two seasons, thanks to the financial stability at the club occasioned by the coming on board of a sponsor, Britam Insurance.

Sunday June 7th

AFC Leopards 1-0 SOFAPAKA (Nyayo Stadium)

Make-shift keeper Karim Ndungwa is no doubt a hero to the “Ingwe” nation, the Ugandan striker took a step of faith to pick up the gloves to man the goal post when regular keepers chose to join the striking senior players. The players had refused to step into the field unless paid their accumulated salaries and allowances and the match had to be delayed for an hour to allow Leopards to raise quorum.

And when the depleted squad finally stepped onto the field, they gave they lives to the jersey, with Karim producing fine saves including a penalty to keep Leopards in the game.

The Leopards fought tooth and nail to hold on to Abdoul Yorou’s own goal in the second half to secure the maximum points. The win propelled Ingwe to fifth on the log with 25 points.

SOFAPAKA remains second behind leaders Gor but are now 12 points a drift, with their title ambitions quickly fading away. “Batoto Ba Mungu” clearly missed the services of danger man Fiston Abdoul Razak in the match, the Burundian international is on his way to South African after signing a lucrative three years deal with Memelodi Sundaows.

Ulinzi Stars 2-1 KCB (Afraha Stadium)

The Soldiers moved to third on the log with the 2-1 win over the Bankers. Geoffrey Kokoyo put the Army side ahead in the 4th minute before John Nairuka added the second in the 13th minute, Paul Kiongera who is soon moving back to his parent club Simba SC in Tanzania after fully recovering from knee injury grabbed the consolation goal for KCB at the stroke of half time, his second on the trot.

KCB will head into the break at 13th position with 13 points three places above relegation zone.

Bandari FC 2-0 Thika United ( Mbaraki Sports Club)

The Dockers ended a turbulent first leg all smiles with an emphatic 2-0 beating of Thika United to burry a six match winless streak.

The ill tempered match saw two players on both sides receive marching orders by half hour mark.
Bandari’s David Kingatua and Thika’s Michael Luvutsi were on the wrong with the former retaliating the letter’s foul on him.

Winger Shaban Kenga headed the Bandari ahead in the 40th minute with the second half substitute Lazo Simba adding the second.

The loss is Thika United’s second in row after falling to Gor by a similar margin on Monday last week, Coach Tim Bryett took to his twitter account to apologize to the Thika United family for the loss, “To Thika United fans on behalf of the players and team, I would like to apologize for the poor performance and result.”  Thika drops to 8th on the log with 22 points.

As the league takes a breather, we at Soka25east.com would love to say thank you to all our readers and followers on our social media platforms, it has been fruitful first leg and we promise you more come second leg. Keep it here for the very latest in the transfer market.

Find me on twitter @bonfaceosano