FKF Premier League: Tusker and Bandari share spoils at Utalii Grounds as AFC, Sofapaka notch victories

Premier league Match at Wundanyi Dawson Mwanyumba stadium in Taita-Taveta County. [Renson Mnyamwezi/Standard]

Rupia scores a brace as Leopards beat Bidco while Asieche also weighs in with double to help Batoto Ba Mungu and Wanga salvages a point for Homeboyz.

Elvis Rupia scored a second half brace as AFC Leopards beat newcomers Bidco United 2-0 at Kasarani Stadium yesterday to maintain their 100 per cent start to the 2020/2021 FKF-Premier League season.

It was the same scenario in Wundanyi where Sofapaka captain Elli Asieche hit a double to help Batoto Ba Mungu bounce back from their last week’s 1-0 defeat to Bandari to sweep aside Western Stima 3-1.

At Bukhungu Stadium, veteran striker Allan Wanga netted a second half equaliser to salvage a point for Kakamega Homeboyz against Posta Rangers (1-1) as Bandari held Tusker to a barren draw at Utalii Grounds.

Samuel Odera had given the mailmen an early lead in the third minute only for Wanga to cancel it out in the 75th minute.

The victory at Kasarani saw Leopards go level on six points with league leaders KCB, but edged out on goal difference.

Though Ingwe were a pale shadow of their former selves in the first half, the win is a big boost to Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani on his return to the dugout following Tomas Trucha’s recent abrupt resignation.

“We didn’t play well in the first half, but I am pleased with how we responded in the second half,” said Kimani.

But it is after Kimani’s tactical changes of bringing on Bonface Mukhekhe and Bienvenue Shaka for Austin Odhiambo and Caleb Olilo on the hour mark respectively, that changed the game for Leopards. The substitutions came barely a few minutes after Rupia had forced a fine save from Bidco goalkeeper Omar Adisa following Jaffari Awiti’s delivery from the right channel.

However, after a series of the threats, Leopards were finally rewarded in the 67th minute when Rupia broke the deadlock following a brilliant build-up.

And with less than eight minutes to the stoppage time, the former Power Dynamos and Wazito man pounced on Robinson Kamura’s delivery to slot the ball past Adisa before he was replaced by Hansel Ochieng.

Rupia’s brace saw him leapfrog Kariobangi Sharks captain Erick Rupia at the top in the goalscorers chart with three goals.

In Wundanyi, captain Elli Asieche led from the front netting a double as Sofapaka trounced Western Stima 3-1.

Asieche got his name on the scoresheet on the half hour mark before making it 2-0 from the spot in the 80th minute.

Experienced goalkeeper Samuel Odhiambo then pulled a goal back for the powermen via a penalty three minutes later.

However, Kepha Aswani hit the final nail in the visitors’ casket with a last gasp strike to seal the first win of the season for John Baraza’s boys.