NAIROBI, Kenya, December 15 – Former Harambee Stars head coach, Francis Kimanzi, has promised more to come with his new charges Tuesker FC after he bagged his first silverware at the club with a 5-4 win on post-match penalties over league champions Gor Mahia in the DStv SuperSport Cup on Saturday.
The sides played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time and Kimanzi who took over from Robert Matano in the close season is raring to get the trophy hunt started in the next season after the Brewers surrendered the league title to K’Ogalo.
K’Ogalo new signing from Western Stima Kevin Oluoch, slotted home the opener in the first half before Brewers new catch Lloyd Wahome, equalised in the second half.
“The main purpose of this match was to win the Cup, this was very important to me and the technical bench. the boys have played good football bearing in mind they had low fitness since we had little time to train.
“The new players are very wonderful and they have proved why we signed them, my best player today was Brian Osumba whom we signed recently from KCB , so am confident come next season we will upgrade their standard style of play,” Kimanzi who confirmed he will sign more players said after the win.
“We played well since most of my players had stopped training and most of them were doing duty to the national team in the just concluded Cecafa that saw us have little time to train, I will test the fitness of new players in the coming matches,” his opposite number, Bobby Williamson said.
Both coaches used the match to gauge their new players ahead of the 2014 season, with Kimanzi fielding in Lloyd Wahome, Osborne Monday whom he acquired from Mathare United and Brian Osumba while Gor tactician started with midfielder Oluoch and James Kariuki who they signed from Karuturi Sports.
Tusker started on top with Jesse Were missing to tap home Joshua Oyoo’s cross in the second minute. Four minutes later, Abuod Omar brought in a free kick that found Were in the box, but he failed to beat keeper Jerim Onyango with his off target shot.
Paul Kiongera could have opened the scores in the sixth minute, but his strike was blocked by Tusker defenders as the ball went towards Dan Sserunkuma who brought in a fine cross that found no one in the box to slot home.
Tusker responded swiftly with Wahome failing to connect Monday’s cross. Gor continued to pile pressure that forced Wahome to foul Sserunkuma for a free kick which Edwin Lavatsa kicked straight to the arms of custodian Samuel Odhiambo.
Debutant Oluoch was the man that separated the two sides, scoring his first goal with the league champions after connecting Lavatsa’s corner in the 23rd.
KPL Top Scorer runners up Were could have restored parity for Kimanzi’s side, but he blasted Ali Abondo’s cross wide.
Onyango had to punch Were’s strike for a fruitless corner as the match entered to the breather with K’Ogalo leading 1-0.
The Ruaraka based side resumed the last half fighting for goals, with Fredrick Onyango heading Oyoo’s corner that Onyango dined him.
Gor keeper had to save Abondo’s well taken free kick in the 48th, three minutes later Sserunkuma had a chance to extend the lead, but his effort was cleared by Monday.
Williamson brought in Kariuki for his debut, who combined well with Kelvin Omondi that provided a pass to Sserunkuma who saw his shot go wide.
Wahome headed home Oyoo’s corner in the 66th to equalize after a poor clearance from K’Ogalo defense.
Solomon Nasio could double for Gor when he was alone with Onyango to beat, but he wasted the chance with his wide strike.
Sserunkuma failed to record his name on the score sheet in the dying minutes, after he received Lavatsa’s pass that saw him direct his low shot at the hands of Onyango, to force Williamson replace him with Donald Musoti, who has already signed for Tanzanian giants Simba SC.
Odhiambo saved Solomon Nasio’s penalty as Tusker converted all their kicks through Ismael Dunga, Osborne Monday, Cliford Alwanga, Brian Osumba and Ali Abondo while Sserunkuma, David Owino and Donald Mosoti scored for Gor.
This was a good comeback for the brewers who lost by the same margin at the beginning of the year to Gor, in the DSTV Super Cup.
Both teams now heads to Zanzibar for the Mapinduzi Cup which starts early next month in preparation for new season, and CAF Champions League for K’Ogalo.
Tusker went home with Sh750,000 (USD 866,5.50) while Gor walked away with Sh500,000 (USD 577,7.00)
