BY ERICK OCHIENG’
Thika United and Sony Sugar have set a Kenyan Premier League U-19 Youth Football Tournament semi-final date to be played on Thursday.
The teams won their semi-final matches against third-place play-off-bound Ulinzi Stars and AFC Leopards at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, on Wednesday.
Thika United scored through Nicholas Kariuki who slotted in a rebound in the second minute, Antony Josiah fired in a midfield shot in the 14th and Clifton Miheso dipped in a right cross in the 60th minute to seal the deal.
Ulinzi’s sole scorer was Samuel Mburu (eighth minute) whose shot was deflected by Stephen Odhiambo from the opponent’s side.
Stuggart Ogira’s slotted rebound for Sony Sugar in the 37th minute was enough to send AFC Leopards packing in the championship.
The 3-1 loss to Gor Mahia at Thika Municipal Stadium at the weekend by the senior team propelled Thika United U-19 to redeem the club’s image by thrashing Ulinzi Stars with a similar margin in a hotly contested match.
"It was a way of protecting our image. We had to do it to prove to Brookside that we are worth the sponsorship," said Fred Chitae, Thika United captain. Mahia are also sponsored by Brookside but under the Tuzo brand.
According to the captain, it was defending and attacking tactics that helped them to paralyse Ulinzi.
Ulinzi Stars and Thika United players in a past Under-19 league match. [PHOTO: FILE] |
Thika’s coach John Kamau was not at all surprised by the win stating they were all prepared for the finals.
His players that have greatly given him a run for his money since the tournament begun last week are Jackson Macharia and Steve Odhiambo whom Kamau said contributed a lot to the teams’ success.
"What made Thika book a berth for the finals was our ability to identify and recruit youths into the team," said Kamau. Thika recruited seven players from the East African Secondary School Games held last year and the players are from across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Ulinzi coach Danstan Nyaudo blamed his players for the loss, admitting that he lost fairly. "We did not play well as we had anticipated. We were sluggish. We did not police mark," Nyaudo said after the match.
Nyaudo praised his player Mburu who is currently the goal leader in the event with four goals saying the player impressed even when it was apparent the team was down.
Nyaudo also praised KPL for the fete saying they should inject more money into future tournaments.
Gicheru pegged their loss on limited training but said the experience in the championship was great especially that they made it to the semis. To Gicheru.the first goal by the opponents distracted their team spirit which cost them the win. "We hope to return a stronger side in August," Gicheru told FeverPitch.
