Ulinzi revives title hope

By ROBIN TOSKIN and BEN AHENda

Ulinzi Stars revived their floundering championship hopes to improve to 40 points, five behind stuttering leaders AFC Leopards, thanks to Wycliffe Ochomo’s 25th minute strike against Sofapaka in Nakuru.

Having watched Western Stima humiliate the more illustrious Kenyan Premier League leaders AFC Leopards at their Afraha Stadium backyard, Ulinzi Stars had to put aside their own woes to fashion out a result that leaves in a position to strike at the leading pack.

Coming off two consecutive defeats to Gor Mahia and Chemelil and a scoreless draw further back against Tusker, Ulinzi Stars knew defeat would virtually put them out of the title race.

Reigning champions Tusker (42 points) play KCB today (4pm at City Stadium) and therefore, on Sunday’s fixture was a must win for Ulinzi.

The soldiers had seen their gritty displays against Chemelil and Gor Mahia all end in defeat and coach Sammy Simiyu, whose future as Ulinzi Stars coach was the subject of speculation, rested centre-back Geoffrey Kokoyo for Josiah Odhiambo.

Sofapaka, too, had not registered a win since the 4-1 beating of Thika United way back on July 28 .

With Englishman Stewart Hall making his debut on the bench since signing for the Sofapaka last week, the 2009 champions started brightly but Danson Kago failed to make the most of James Situma’s cross after three minutes.

Heritier Luvualu making a rare start for Sofapaka, drew a good save from goalkeeper Jacktone Odhiambo. The visitors were to be beaten back midway through the first half when Ochomo latched on to George Otieno’s searching pass to beat Duncan Ochieng.

Hall’s first ever substitution as Sofapaka coach saw him bench Kago for Mugalia at the start of the second half and it should have paid immediate dividends. Mugalia shot gave goalkeeper Odhiambo all sorts of problems before James Mulinge came to the rescue with John Baraza waiting to pounce.

Pressing game

Sofapaka’s pressing game caused more problems but Odhiambo’s assured performance ensured Ulinzi Stars held on for a win that would now ease tension in the soldiers’ garrison.

At Chemelil Complex, Oserian climbed a step to 15th in the Kenyan Premier League with a deserved, but heart-breaking 1-1 draw at Chemelil Sugar when it looked they going to claim all three points on Sunday.

Jack Obayi had given the Naivasha flower men as early as the 10th minute only for Jared Obwoge to salvage a point for the sugar millers in the 90th minute.

With Rangers suffering a 4-0 hammering at Thika United on Saturday, Oserian moved level on 20 points but with a superior goal aggregate, setting a tense homestretch in the coming weeks.

Two teams will be relegated from the KPL with the same number promoted from the FKF Division One, which Bandari have taken a firm grip of Zone A while Kakamega Homeboyz, Nakuru AllStars, Agrochemical and Finlay are involved in a fierce qualification battle in Zone B.