By Bosco Magare and Ben Ahenda
Chemelil Sugar will believe they have turned around their fortunes following in a dismal premier league run which ended by walloping Gor Mahia 3-0 at Chemelil Complex.
The sugar millers had the started the day at the bottom of the table, but Milton Odera hit a double and Tonny Opondo sealed their first three point on 87 minutes to lift them to 13th place.
The shock win was not only a respite for Chemelil’s poor start to the season but also a smack in the face of their former coach Zedekiah Otieno ‘Zico’ who decamped to Gor as Technical Director.
Zico endured a harrowing 90 minutes as Gor fans’ frustrations grew to chants of "Zeddy must go! Zeddy must go!"
Penalty appeals
The sugar millers playing under Mike Mururi, who has openly expressed his desire to return to the playing pitch, and not the dugout, started on an enterprising note.
They had two penalty appeals waved away by referee Haji Adede in a dominant display in the first half.
Undeterred, however, and with a vocal home support, Chemelil raided Gor’s forte and it was no surprise when Odera rifled in the opener in the 36th minute.
Odera fastened on a free-kick by Wycliffe Opondo and blasted home with Gor defence revolving around Julius Owino and Nicholas Ochieng’ stranded.
Chemelil’s sustained pressure paid off after restart as goalkeeper Jerim Onyango fumbled with the ball allowing Odera to poke in his second.
Any hopes of a comeback were blown when Opondo struck with three minutes to go and Gor’s Vuvuzela’s went silent.
In Nakuru, Ulinzi Stars kept their winning streak when they blanked AFC Leopards 2-0 in a tough premier league match at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.
The winners who led by a solitary goal at the break scored the match opener in the 22nd minute through former international striker Tom Ogweno.
Difficult angle
The goal that dashed the hopes of the former premier league champions of sharing the spoils came in the 89th minute from Mulinge Munandi who scored from a difficult angle.
Stephen Waruru had a gilt-edged chance on 67 minutes but fluffed it when it looked easier to score.
At Nyayo Stadium, Sher preserved their good record the national arena after a battling 0-0 against Mathare United.
The flower men will feel the single point is a token for their toil as Evans Majani’s lofted ball found James "Abu" Omondi whose effort was stopped by goalkeeper Martin Musalia’s leg in the game’s first real chance after 35 minutes.
Mathare United were uncharacteristically a pale shadow of their selves as Sher put them on the back-foot and were saved by Musalia against on 41 minutes when he palmed over James Macharia’s drive.
Macharia let off the hook Francis Kimanzi’s men on the stroke of halftime when he sent the ball spinning after slicing it following a cut back. Mathare United stroked the ball but lacked the cutting edge.
Mathare’s Simon Mburu’s point blank header, but straight the waiting hands of Noah Ayuko to show for the huff and puff.
—Additional reporting by
Robin Toskin
