By Austin Oduor Otieno,
Zoo Kericho had to thank their top striker and Club lead scorer Nicholas Kipkurui when he scored the all important goal in their 0-1 away win over Nakuru’s St.Josephs to go 5 points clear at the top of the FKF Premier League. The match however was played at the home of Zoo Kericho, the Kericho Green Stadium owing to the unavailability of Nakuru’s Afraha..The next meeting will however be at the Afraha Stadium.
The win was Zoo Kericho’s third in a row and they sit pretty at the top of the table after fellow title chasers Kakamega Homeboyz and Rangers failed to collect maximum points over the weekend.
Posta Rangers lost 2-1 to money bags Nakumatt FC who have discovered back their winning ways after a slow start to the FKF PL.This was their second consecutive win after they beat Agro Chemicals 0-1 in Muhoroni over the last weekend.Kennedy Odinga and Tyrus Owino scored for Nakumatt with Augustine Eshiwani getting the consolation for Posta Rangers. With the win, Nakumatt jump to the 12th position in the log with 12 points 14 points adrift leaders Zoo Kericho and just one behind 9th placed St Josephs.
On Sunday, former KPL player Robert Binja now playing for Nairobi Stima cancelled a Kevin Ngugi Opener when they held visiting MOSCA FC to a 1-1 draw. The same day saw Modern Coast Rangers formerly Magongo Rangers fail to take advantage of their home ground when they settled to a goalless draw with Nairobi based Kariobangi Sharks at the Mombasa County stadium.
Earlier on Saturday 9th May, West Kenya Sugar under the tutelage of new coach Eluid Omukuya who replaced Hezron Nyabinge beat FC Talanta 2-1 in an entertaining match at the Bukhungu stadium in Kakaemga.The hosts who seems to be dangerous at home scored their goals through Stephen Osodo and Denis Kalawa with former Muhoroni and Homeboyz player Benard Ongoma justifying his scoring poweress by pulling one back for the Government sponsored team.
The win pushed them to position 6 with 16 points, a point more than Gusii based side Shabana whose game against Finlays Horticulture was rescheduled. The game was initially planned to be played at the Kingfisher grounds in Naivasha.No communication was given for the change. Shabana are now 7th with 15 points with a game at hand.
At the Kanduyi stadium in Bungoma,home to former KPL champs Nzoia Sugar, hosts Nzoia FC treated their fans to what was a thrilling encounter however the match ended 2-2 much to the disappointment of the fans who packed the historic Kanduyi stadium.Nzoia United were the first to draw blood when Bonface Muchiri scored in the 25th minute, Muchiri added his second of the day completing a brace 4 minutes into the second half for a commanding 2-0 lead.Ligi Ndogo however had their resilient pay off when Brian Yator reduced the deficit to 1 when he scored in the 60th minute before Kenneth Maritimo,who is the league’s second top scorer equalized with just 5 minutes to go. The draw puts Nzoia United at the 5th position .Ligi Ndogo moves to 11th but just ahead of Nakumatt on goal difference.
Collated weekend Results.
Saturday
West Kenya Sugar 2-1 FC Talanta –Bukhungu Stadium,Kakamega.
Oserain 1-1 Homeboyz –Oserian Stadium,Naivasha
Nzoia United 2-2 Ligi Ndogo- Kanduyi Stadium,Bungoma
St.Josephs 0-1 Zoo Kericho Green Stadium,Kericho
Sunday
Nakumatt 2-1 Rangers –Kenyatta Stadium,Machakos
Nairobi Stima 1-1 MOSCA FC -Kenyatta Stadium,Machakos
Modern Coast Rangers 0-0 Kariobangi Shark-Mombasa County Stadium,Mombasa
Top 3 Scorers in the FKF PL
1.Keiphas Baraza 8 Kakamega Homeboyz
2.Kenneth Maritim 7 Ligi Ndogo
3.Nicholas Kipkurui 7 Zoo Kericho
Find me on twitter @aoduor24
