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| KCB Brian Osumba dribbles past Augustine Etemesi of AFC Leopards. |
By GILBERT WANDERA
For long, KCB proved to be a bogey team against AFC Leopards.
Last year they beat them 2-0 effectively ending title ambitions for Leopards.
However, on Sunday, Leopards got their revenge in style winning 1-0 at Nyayo Stadium courtesy of a Paul Were goal. It is a result that left KCB coach Abdalla Juma stunned.
“Today we were simply not in the game. My players kept falling inexplicably and told me they could not see each other when required to make a pass. They said they felt things in their shoes when they had the ball and it left us all surprised,” he said.
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Juma was also furious by the goal his side conceded insisting match officials should have done more to protect his goalkeeper.
“My goalkeeper was clearly pushed and the referee ought to have blown the whistle. Let teams win fairly on the pitch,” added Juma.
Elsewhere, any hope by Tusker to move into the top three position were crushed when they lost 3-2 to Nairobi City Stars on Friday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
However, the result was not surprising considering that City Stars have time and again proved their mettle against top club in the league.
Tusker had got off to a bright start with early goals by Michael Olunga and Khalid Aucho before City Stars struck with a brace from Bruno Sserunkuma and John Makwata.
The result may as well have ended Tusker’s title ambition even as it helped their opponents to revive their chances of finishing in the top eight.
Second placed Sofapaka needed to win to keep pressure on league leaders Gor Mahia but in the end had to settle for a barren draw against top eight contenders Sony Sugar on Friday.
The result keeps Sofapaka in second position on 39 points but remain well aware that they cannot afford to drop any more points as they battle it out for the league title.
Both teams played cautiously, hardly opening up especially in the first half. Sony goalkeeper Wycliff Kasaya was outstanding in goal and worked hard to earn his side an important draw.
At Bukhungu Stadium, former KPL champions Mathare United made history by becoming the first side to hit 14 draws this season when they shared the spoils with Western Stima.
It means that out of 24 matches so far played, the 2008 KPL champions have won only four times and lost six. With six matches to go, United are dangerously hanging in relegation zone and must begin to win.
