Ushuru FC’s Nelson Marosewe and teammates celebrate scoring against Mathare United. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, August 16- A seismic Sunday in the SportPesa Premier League saw two coaches part company with their clubs as Ushuru FC bounced back from defeat to champions Gor Mahia to thump Mathare United 3-1 at Nyayo Stadium.
The result was bitter enough for Mathare coach, Stanley Okumbi who threw in the towel moments later to follow Thika United’s Tim Bryett who announced he had resigned after their 2-1 defeat to Bandari on Saturday.
According to SuperSport.com, an upset Okumbi said he was leaving his post due to the team’s recent form that has seen the side win two, lose two and draw one of their last five matches.
Mathare surrendered the lead to lose to the taxmen just a week after City Stars humiliated the Slum Boys 2-0 at the same venue in a shock result.
“We play so well but lose games and this is very disappointing. It’s really hard to coach such players and I have decided to take the hard decision and take a rest from the team. Maybe the players will get another coach that will understand them and the team will return to its winning ways.
“In our previous game against City Stars we created very many chances but did not score. The opponents utilized the only chances they got and won the match. The same scenario happened today.
“We created very many goal scoring opportunities but couldn’t utilize any while my defenders committed silly mistakes and we got punished. The goalkeeper also did a school boy error and Ushuru punished that with the simplest of goals,” Okumbi stated.
Defeat left Mathare tenth on 29 points as Ushuru climbed to eighth, two above the 2010 champions following the clash where Ismael Dunga opened the scoring early in the second half after Moses Arita missed a penalty in the first.
The taxmen fought back and netted three unanswered goals through Arita and a Nelson Marosewe double.
In other Sunday fixtures, Tusker FC came from behind to hold KCB to a 1-1 draw at the same stadium where Chris Odhiambo and Jockins Atudo traded the goals in the opening half.
Tusker remained fourth on 37, four adrift of third placed Sofapaka and 18 behind league leaders and titleholders Gor.
At the Moi Stadium in Kisumu, the ‘sugarless’ derby between Chemelil and Sony ended goalless in a result that did neither side a favour in their battle to avoid being sucked into the relegation fight.
Only KCB and three points separate 12th placed Sony and Chemelil in 14th.
– Bryett resigns-
Stanley Okumbi who quit as Mathare United coach after their 3-1 defeat to Ushuru FC during the match. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Assistant Moses Irungu will be in charge of 11th placed Thika after Bryett left the head coach position by ‘mutual consent’ with other reports saying he had been sacked.
Thika suffered their seventh straight loss after a promising first leg gave way to relegation form in the second with the side picking only three out of 24 points.
“It is with great sorrow and regret that I announce my departing from Thika Utd as Head Coach by mutual consent. Unfortunately we were unable to recreate the good form we achieved in the first half of the season, I leave the team in good hands of Irungu,” the departed coach said in a statement.
Gor lead the standings on 55 points after turning over City Stars 3-1 at Nyayo on Saturday, 11 above second placed Ulinzi Stars who are away on East Africa Military Games that start Monday in Kampala, Uganda.
Defeat left City Stars only three points above basement side Nakuru All Stars who battled to a thrilling 3-3 draw with third placed Sofapaka having led 3-0 at Nyayo on Friday.
