Kenyan Premier League: Owino's own goal denies Okumbi birthday gift

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MATHARE UNITED Coach Stanley Okumbi.PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

Mathare United’s defender George “Wise” Owino denied his coach a perfect birthday gift after he deflected into his own net in for a 1-1 draw against Tusker in a Kenyan Premier League match yesterday in Ruaraka.

The visitors grabbed the lead in the 20th minute through Eric Johanna’s brilliant strike after he received a fine pass from Daniel Mwaura, setting up what would have been a good chance to pop the champagne for Mathare’s head coach, Stanley Okumbi.

But with six minutes left on the clock, Owino, a former international, deflected Jesse Were’s powerful shot into his own net as both sides shared the spoils. Despite the draw, Okumbi, who was celebrating his 34th birthday yesterday, was pleased with his boys’ output.

“It was almost a perfect birthday gift, but the deflected injury-time goal spoiled it. It was just a miscalculation of the defender,” said Okumbi after the match.

“In the first half, our strikers had urgency, but in the second half, Tusker came out strongly. We didn’t come to defend, we played our hearts out and I am satisfied with the point.”

His counterpart Francis Kimanzi was similarly satisfied with the draw, but busted Mathare’s defensive strategy.

“It was a nice and entertaining game, but difficult for us. Our gameplan was distracted after conceding an early goal. We would have won this match with a bigger margin, but we were not clinical in front of goal,” said Kimanzi.

“Our opponents were very defensive, but I am pleased with the boys’ fighting spirit. I am happy with the result.”

Mathare striker Johanna dedicated the goal to his coach.

“I was unlucky to be denied by the post, but I am I scored the goal for the coach. It is a special birthday gift for my coach,” said Johanna

An all-attack display in the second half, produced a superb match that saw both sides denied by the posts. Johanna had a chance to double the lead for the slum boys, but his ferocious long range attempt on the hour mark hit the woodwork, with Yvonne Isuzza pouncing on rebound, but his goal was ruled offside.

A few moments later, Tusker’s Were saw his powerful shot in the box also hit the post, but was rewarded in the 86th minute with a deflected effort.

An all-attack display in the second half, produced a superb match that saw both sides denied by the posts. Johanna had a chance to double the lead for the slum boys, but his ferocious long range attempt on the full hour mark hit the woodwork, with Isuzza pouncing on rebound, but his goal was ruled offside.

Meanwhile, a five-goal thriller was on display at Thika Municipal Stadium where Sofapaka edged out Thika United 3-2 in another Kenyan Premier League (KPL) fixture.