Western Stima back to SPL, KCB stay on course

Western Stima verses Posta Rangers FC Victor Akumu (Right) of Western Stima fights for the ball procession with Dennis Mukaisi of Posta Rangers during their SportsPesa Premier League game at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on 11-11-2017. [Phillip Orwa, Standard]

Ushuru’s promotion hopes dealt a major blow after draw with the Saints.

Western Stima have returned to the SportPesa Premier League after beating a stubborn Coast Stima 1-0 in yesterday’s National Super League match at Moi Stadium, Kisumu.

Ugandan import Junior Mukisa’s last gasp stunning free kick at the edge of the box is all Paul Ogai’s men (76 points) needed to seal an automatic promotion to SPL with two games to spare.

Kenya Commercial Bank (69) also remained firmly on course for a return to topflight football with a 2-0 win over Green Commandos in the second double header tie at Camp Toyoyo Grounds.

Former Tusker and Nairobi City Stars left-back Dennis Ng’ang’a put the bankers in the driving seat with a 20th minute deflected free kick before Kevin Owino doubled the lead on the hour mark.

“That’s a vital win for us. But it is not yet celebration time. We still have three games to go. We will continue pushing until the final game,” a jubilant KCB coach Elvis Ayany told Standard Sports.

While the power men made a come back to the topflight football barely a year after being relegated, fourth-placed Ushuru’s (62) hopes for SPL promotion suffered a setback after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by visiting  St. Joseph at Camp Toyoyo Grounds.

The taxmen, who went into the match needing a win to keep their promotion play-offs a live, took an early second minute lead through Bill Oporia’s effort only for Kevin Taabu to cancel it out on the hour mark.

The result left coach Ken Kenyatta a disappointed man as he rued his side’s missed chances. “There is nothing I can do, that’s the result we got today (Friday). We created many chances in the first half. And when you have such chances in football, the best thing you should do is minimise.”

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