GOR IN CONTROL: K'Ogalo maintain KPL top spot, Sofapaka back to winning ways

Gor Mahia strikers Ali Abondo and Meddie Kagere celebrates their goal agains AFC leopards uring the KPL encounter on April 12, 2015 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Gor Mahia maintained the top spot in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) standings despite a 1-1 tie against AFC Leopards in Sunday’s derby at Nyayo Stadium.

Away from the result, the derby itself lived up to its, billing with AFC Leopards coming from a goal down to pick a point.

There were several outstanding players in the match and Ali Abondo remains the best of them with a great goal to show for it.

The former Tusker midfielder increased his goals tally to five after scoring on Sunday and remains a key plank in the Gor Mahia line-up going forward.

Going into the derby, Gor were always favourites, with a clean record running into four matches in which they had picked maximum points and looked set to continue their good run.

AFC Leopards on the other hand were bogged down by many off-the-pitch issues, most serious of which was the suspension for three months of their shirt sponsorship by Mumias Sugar.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT

The impact was almost immediate as Leopards head coach Zradvko Logarusic stayed away from the team’s match against Thika United protesting lack of payment.

On the pitch, Leopards looked like they had put aside their problems and gave an outstanding second-half performance stirred by the presence of Bernard Mangoli who came on to steady the midfield.

In the end, both sets of coaches were satisfied with the result. Leopards coach Logarusic said: “I am happy with the level of the game. We are satisfied with the results and delighted that Mangoli changed everything for us. Before he came on, we had a problem in midfield and his experience turned things around,” he said.

 EASY GAME

Logarusic admitted that Gor Mahia looked better on the ball given that they have played more competitive matches since the season started.

Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttal said: “It was not going to be an easy game for us what with the huge expectations from our fans. We dominated in the first half and perhaps we should have scored more goals. However, I thought we should have been given a penalty in the second half and that could have won us the game.”

Elsewhere, Sofapaka bounced back after whipping Nakuru All Stars 3-1. Before that win, Sofapaka had gone down 3-2 to Western Stima and drawn against Chemelil Sugar.

And despite a good start to the season, reality is sinking at Bandari after the team lost their second consecutive match, going down 1-0 to visiting Sony Sugar.

This was hardly one week after losing 2-0 to Ulinzi Stars, and should raise the alarm in the dockers’ camp.

Nairobi City Stars finally picked a point after holding Chemelil Sugar to a 1-1 tie.