LONG WAIT IS OVER:Tusker beat Ulinzi Stars to end 23-year thirst for a domestic cup

Tusker FC celebrate with trophy after beating Ulinzi FC during GoTV Cup finals at Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday, Oct 20, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Tusker are on course to winning a double this season after beating Ulinzi Stars 1-0 in yesterday’s GOtv Shield final tie at Nyayo Stadium.

It was Allan Wanga’s 33rd minute thunderous shot that the ten-time Kenyan Premier League champions needed to end the 23-year domestic Cup drought.

“As you all know finals are always tough games, but I am happy we have managed to break the 23-year jinx. The Cup triumph has of course given us motivation ahead of the remaining four league matches. We have broken the Cup record, now aiming for another one in the league,” a jubilant Tusker coach Paul Nkata told Feverpitch.

It was a feeling shared by goal scorer Allan Wanga and winger Danson Kago.

“It’s a great feeling coming into the team, give my best and score the winning goal in the final. With this motivation. I think the league is now ours to lose,” said Wanga.

“This is a historic moment for us. 23 years is not a short period, our target now is winning the league,” added Kago.

Apart from booking a ticket to represent Kenya in next year’s CAF Confederations Cup, the Brewers pocketed Sh2 million in prize money as the soldiers walked away with Sh1 million.

Wanga proved the Brewers’ talisman once again with the winner just before the break.

The goal had been coming as Nkata’s men peppered the soldiers’ goal area but were lucky as Humphrey Mieno miscued his shot in the box before Ulinzi goalkeeper James Saruni brilliantly saved Hashim Sempala’s long range effort.

Ulinzi Stars centre half Mohammed Hassan was a relieved man on the half hour mark when Saruni showed top level reflexes to smother what could have been an own goal.

It did not take long though for Tusker’s pressing to pay off. Wanga struck. And what a strike it was as the powerful centre forward shrugged off a challenge from his marker on the right before unleashing a screamer that flew past a hapless Saruni.

Ulinzi Stars’ attempts to hit back were at best tame as the Brewers sauntered to victory.

Earlier, Kariobangi Sharks had thrashed Kenya Commercial Bank 5-2 in the third place playoffs clash at the same venue. Sharks went home Sh750,000 richer. The bankers raked in Sh500,000

Rodgers Omondi, Patillah Omoto, Erick Juma, Stephen Odhiambo and Elly Asieche were all on target for Sharks.

Nicholas Kamau and Job Endriseh banked KCB’s consolation goals.