KPL:KCB hold Ulinzi stars as Chemelil and Thika United fixture is rained off

By  Ben Ahenda and Bosco Magare

Kenya Commercial Bank forced Ulinzi Stars to a 2-2 draw in a see-saw but fast Tusker Premier League match at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Sundayyest.

The home boys, who started the match on a faster note, saw Oscar Wamalwa draw first blood in the 4th minute after receiving a perfect cross from Elvis Nandwa to put Ulinzi Stars in the lead.

Clifford Alwanga took advantage of some loopholes in the Ulinzi defence from a goalmouth melee to equalise for the bankers in the 42 minute when he tapped home a tricky shot past Ulinzi custodian James Saruni for a one-all draw at the break.

In the second match, the bankers had an upper hand and ran rings in the soldiers’ backyard, allowing Jacob Kelly to put his team in the driving seat in the 64th minute when he unleashed a powerful drive past the bankers’ custodian Sammy Okinda.

The goal infuriated the home boys who fought for an equaliser that came through captain Steve Ocholla two minutes to the final whistle.

Ulinzi coach Salim Ali rued a number of missed chances by his strikers.

recent matches

However, he pointed out that they have improved in their recent matches going by the number of goals they had scored.

“Although in the past we had a blunt striking force, they have managed to improve in our recent matches and it can be explained by the number of goals they have  scored,” he said.

Ali promised to approach their next match against Muhoroni Youth differently in Muhoroni on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Chemelil Sugar’s premier league fixture against Thika United was rained-off and postponed to today, with the visitors leading 1-0.

partisan fans

The match was well attended by scores of partisan and eager Chemelil Sugar fans, who thronged the Chemelil Sports Complex from Kisumu City, Awasi, Muhoroni, Nandi Hills and Kapsabet. It had barely started, with Thika United striker Wycliffe Opondo, who formerly played for the millers, stunning the hosts with an opener.

Opondo’s ice-breaking goal in the 30th second of the match following a superb cross by teammate Francis Kahata was aided into goal past Chemelil Sugar custodian Jairus Adira by a strong wind that swept through the stadium.

Seconds later, the match was washed away by a heavy downpour that hit the Nyando Sugarbelt zone, forcing Magadi Soda-based centre referee Edward Lubungu to postpone the match to today .

Speaking to FeverPitch following the postponement of the premier fixture Chemelil Sugar Club Secretary Samuel Ndungu and a technical bench official Rajab Said said the two teams had agreed, in consultation with centre referee and match commissar, to reschedule the fixture to 11am today due to heavy rain that disrupted the encounter.

—bahenda@standardmedia.co.ke,bmagare@standardmedia.co.ke