Baptism by fire in the Zoo: New boys from Kericho yet to score a goal let alone taste victory
Football
By
Rodgers Eshitemi
| Apr 20, 2017
Zoo Kericho are slowly realising that it is a massive jump from the National Super League to topflight football after five winless matches in the Kenyan Premier League.
Zoo, who were finally promoted to the premiership at the beginning of the season after years of near misses, have found the going tough against seasoned and hardened KPL opponents.
Unlike their fellow newcomers, Nzoia United, Kariobangi Sharks and Nakumatt, the Kericho-based outfit are yet to score a single goal or secure a point in the league despite the massive support-base from the vast Rift Valley region.
Zoo were given a rude welcome to the KPL by Posta Rangers when they fell 1-0 to the mailmen in their opening match in Kericho before losing by the same margin to 15 time champions Gor Mahia.
Sammy Okoth’s side had a chance to bounce back against visiting fellow newbies Nakumatt, but the shoppers stunned them 2-0 with Thika United also helping themselves to a 1-0 win over Zoo.
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And on Sunday, Sofapaka piled more misery when they inflicted the fifth consecutive loss on their hosts with a convincing 3-0 victory in Kericho.
However, Zoo chairman Ken Ochieng is not a worried man despite his team’s poor run of form.
“I am not under pressure or worried at all. I think we are just unlucky. We have been playing very well, creating more chances than our opponents but fail to score,” Ochieng told Standard Sports.
“We are new in KPL and the boys are slowly trying to find their feet. We have been in such a situation before.
“Anytime we go into a new league, we find it rough at the start but settle as the season progresses.”)
“I cannot judge the players harshly over the five losses. I have a lot of faith in this team, it is not about results, but the efforts they put in. Sometimes in football, you can do everything right, but without luck you cannot get the deserved results.
“If they continue playing the way they are doing, I can assure you we will remain in the league. The goals and wins will just come. I have been with these same players from the district league up to KPL, so don’t expect me to make any changes either in the playing unit or technical bench. I will stick with them until the end of the season,” added Ochieng.
Zoo Kericho striker Bernardo Wanguche, too, cited ill luck.
“It is unfortunate that we have been creating more chances than our opponents, but fail to score. I believe with time we will find our scoring touch,” said Wanguche.