Tusker FC are the new Sportpesa Premier League champions

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

A 68th minute goal by Shafik Batambuze was all Tusker FC required to sink arch rivals AFC Leopards 1--0 to be crowned the new Sportpesa Kenyan Premier League champions at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru today.

Batambuze unleashed a powerful strike from a corner kick taken by Osborne Monday to beat AFC custodian Ian Otieno who had a superb afternoon especially in the first half.

Tusker won the title with a total of 58 points from 29 matches, with a match at hand against former champions Gor Mahia on November 19 at Nyayo National Stadium.

Despite having the title under their armpit, Tusker coach Paul Nkata said they are taking their final match against Gor with alot of seriousness that it deserves.

"Our final match against Gor would be a cracker and we must prove to them that we are the real champions by virtue of winning the premiership title after we emerged the GOtv Shield kings," Nkata told Feverpitch in a postmatch interview.

"We knew it was a tough match but we were determined to get a winning goal and kept on pressing until we got it. We are now focused on African Champions League that goes with recruitment of polished and experienced players," the proud Ugandan tactician added.

AFC head coach Stewart Hall admitted having lost to a better side as he congratulated Tusker players for the epic victory but promised to carry a radical surgery on the playing unit ahead of next season.

"Our performance today was far much better than the game against Sofapaka and we had a plan for Tusker and knew they would be dangerous from corners and that is how they earned their victory as they broke our initial plan," said Hall.

Match wise, both teams displayed splendid football with each keen on shaking the net first the ale men appeared to have underrated their opponents from the kick-off and AFC Leopards took advantage of that to raid their opponents' territory and had an upper hand in the first quarter of first half.

However, Tusker retaliated with ferocious moves that saw Anthony Ndolo's strike parried for an abortive corner in the seventh minute.

In the 28th minute, AFC last responded with some clinical finishes that resulted in Allan Katerega's powerful blockbuster narrowly miss the target with Tusker custodian David Okello in off position.

Realising that they could not beat central defenders Martin Kizza, Lloyd Wahome and Humphery Mieno, AFC attacked from the wings whereby Moussa Sissoko (right) and John Ndirangu (left) were outstanding with the assistance of midfielder Andrew Tololwa.

Their efforts almost paid off when Mungai Kiongera's attempts to outwit Tusker defence missed the target by inches in the 78th minute.

Both teams made several substitutions with AFC benching injured defender Jackson Saleh and Alfred Wekesa for Yusuf Suf and Cresten Mwago, changes that assisted in holding their midfield that at times was subdued by overlapping Tusker defender Humphery Mieno.

On their part, Tusker rested Anthony Ndolo and Robert Omunuk for Clifford Alwanga and Jackson Macharia, a move that solidified Tusker's quest for the winning goal.