NAIROBI, Kenya, July 23 – Relegation threatened KCB pulled 2008 champions, Mathare United closer to the trapdoor with a resounding 4-0 thrashing whilst veteran winger, Stephen Waruru, notched his seventh goal of the season as Ulinzi were held 1-1 by Nairobi City Stars in the highlight of Saturday’s Kenyan Premier League exchanges.
Waruru, the league top scorer in 2010 when Ulinzi ruled the roost, was again on target after a couple of underwhelming season at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru but his team once again failed to make capital as they surrendered two points.
At Nairobi’s City Stadium, Paul Kiongera, who also top scored for KCB the season before last, rediscovered his mojo with a brace as the Bankers who prop the table registered their third win of the campaign over Mathare at Nairobi’s City Stadium.
Muhoroni Youth continued with their indifferent run after settling to a 1-1 draw with hosts Top Fry Nakuru All Stars in the second game of the Afraha televised double header.
In the early match, City Stars were under stress to collect maximum points to pull away from the danger zone and they went ahead on the 24th minute through Dennis Okoth who finished off a Nelson Marasowe pass.
Waruru pegged them back in the 37th after pouncing on catastrophic defending between keeper Fredrick Majani and defender David Otieno who failed to communicate to each other to punish them.
Stars are five points above the drop zone on 18 as the sides shared the second stalemate of the season after their barren draw in the first leg.
In the earlier kick-off, Teddy Siwa netted a second half goal to help All Stars pick a point from visiting Muhoroni who took the lead in the 22nd through Enos Ochieng who slotted home Daniel Waweru’s free-kick.
At the City Stadium, coach Rishadi Shedu registered his second win of the season as the Bankers bounced back from midweek loss to ruthlessly thrash Mathare to record their highest score line of the campaign.
Ronald Musana broke the deadlock in the 12th after connecting Kiongera’s cross from the midfield to send the ball to the far right corner for his debut goal since joining the Bankers.
KCB scored three goals in the last period, with Kiongera doubling the lead one minute after restart when he picked Benjamin Chaka’s pass from a counter attack before setting up substitute Samuel Mwangi who extended the lead to 3-0.
The Harambee Stars midfielder crowned his man of the match performance a minute later with his brace, looping the ball over Mathare keeper John Wawu.
Derby fever climaxes Sunday
Five fixtures are lined up for Sunday with the mother being the Mashemeji Derby where AFC Leopards welcome archrivals champions Gor Mahia at Nyayo Stadium.
The hype for the return leg is still on as both sides eagerly wait for the big day to see carries the day after Leopards boast of first leg bragging rights courtesy of a 3-1 win.
The social media was a bee hive of activities for the better part of this week as both sides took to their official Facebook walls to taunt each other and predict the score line.
The first leg belonged to Ingwe who outclassed K’Ogalo but for the last five years no team has won both legs and heading to Sunday’s crunch, both sides come from wins but that does not matter when the two titans of Kenyan football step to the pitch.
Ingwe would relish derailing Gor’s title charge and opening it up after Tusker moved to within three points at the summit while K’Ogalo would delight at pushing their ‘in-laws’ closer to the drop zone. Tusker are in Bandari hoping to pick the scraps and muscle to the lead should they win and Gor lose while the ‘sugar’ derby between Chemelil and Sony takes place in Awendo.
Thika United hope to tax points from KRA at home while Sofapaka, the 2009 champions who are trailing the top two are away to Western Stima.
