NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 30 – City Stars have been relegated from the top tier league after falling 3-1 to visiting Kakamega Homeboyz as the 2016 Kenyan Premier League season entered homestretch on Sunday at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani.
A demoralized City Stars, who have survived the chop in the past three consecutive seasons, conceded two goals in the opening half through David Okoth and Hedmond Mauda before Ali Bai sealed the win in the second half.
Pa Jassey Mulie drove home a long range cracker to find a consolation for City Stars in the 81st minute.
With only two matches remaining before the end of the season, City Stars remain rooted at the bottom of the log on 18 points, seven adrift of Ushuru who are on the safety zone.
In a first half where City Stars only had one shot on target compared to Homeboyz’s three, the Kawangware based side paid the prize of poor defending to finally kiss the Kenyan Premier League bye.
A schoolboy error from experienced Arthur Museve gifted Okoth the opener in the seventh minute after the Homeboyz forward intercepted the City Stars defender’s feeble pass to unleash a screamer past keeper Victor Odhiambo.
City Stars responded immediately through Joseph Sakwa on the left but Homeboyz custodian Michael Wakanya was up to the task to calm the situation.
Festo Omukoto also had a try with a long range shot that went over in10th minute but that was City Stars’ last chance before they found themselves on the receiving end once again in the 26th minute.
Mauda had his work cut out for his second goal when he was given space by defenders to turn inside out City Stars captain John Amboko and double the lead for Homeboyz with a fine near post finish.
City Stars’ hopes of making a comeback in the second half were thwarted with Ezekiel Odera coming close with a header that hit the wood work in the 62nd minute.
Bai extended Homeboyz’s lead ensuring his side is 3-0 up when he maximized on poor marking at City Stars back-line after receiving a pass from skipper Keiphas Barasa to control it before finding space to find the back of the net.
Bai was immediately withdrawn for Andrew Murunga who nearly made an impact with his first touch when he chested a pass but directed the shot straight to keeper from close range.
Homeboyz held on to pick their first win in four matches and climb seventh on 40 points as head coach Mike Mururi aims to clinch Top 8 ticket for next season.