By GILBERT WANDERA
Sony Sugar coach Zedekiah Otieno believes the team has put behind them their poor results and is ready to fight for a respectable finish in the Kenyan Premier League.
After starting well at the beginning of the season, Sony had a rough patch at one point going seven matches without registering a single victory.
In the recent past, the team has turned around collecting four points in two matches played away. Now Otieno insists they are back and ready to take their rightful place.
“The recent results have been very encouraging. When you win away it is very positive and gives the players a lot of motivation,” he said.
The sugar millers held AFC Leopards to a 1-1 tie in Mumias and four days later beat KCB 1-0 in Nairobi.
Interestingly, they face Leopards this weekend at their Gusii Stadium ground and Otieno says they are determined to continue with the good run in the league.
“We respect Leopards but being at home, it gives us an edge over them though this season, home-ground advantage has not mattered at all,” he said.
FAVOURITE TEAMS
The former Harambee Stars tactician also believes it is still too early to predict how the league will pan out.
“There are four or five teams who are favourites, but there are still many matches to go at this point. It could go whichever way,” he said.
The coach is also happy with officiating in the league and says there has been a lot of improvement.
“The referees are doing a good job and that is how it should be. Previously we had problems with some of their decisions, but I am glad this has been addressed and by and large it remains satisfactory,” added the coach.
The team has signed former Muhoroni Youth goal poacher Godfrey Simiyu and former Rangers midfielder James Orundu and the coach believes the two players will contribute greatly to their ambitions in the second leg.
Simiyu scored five goals for Muhoroni in the first leg making him a great addition for the sugar millers.
Elsewhere, Tusker remain at the top of the standings after stopping Rangers 2-0 at City Stadium at the weekend.
The win pushed Tusker to 34 points, three more than second-placed Sofapaka.
It is just the third time that Tusker find themselves at the top of the standings and it is a position they will want to stay for a long time.
The KPL resumes this Friday after last weekend’s break to pave way for the Cup competition.
Meanwhile, Football Kenya Federation has suspended its vice-chairman Sammy Sholei and Nairobi branch chairman Dan Shikanda.
The two officials were suspended over their decision to institute court proceedings against the federation last week.
FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya said the action by the two constituted a serious breach of the bodies’ statutes. Robert Asembo takes over as vice-chairman in an acting capacity while Michael Ouma will act FKF Nairobi branch chairman.
