Nakumatt beat Ushuru to retain Premier League status, Wazito, Thika United relegated

Clinton Kisiavuki of Nakumatt FC during playoff match against Ushuru FC at Camp Toyoyo on Friday Oct 19, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Nakumatt have retained their SportPesa Premier League status after beating Ushuru 3-0 on aggregate in the promotion/relegation playoff.

Joe Waithira’s brace is all that Melis Medo’s men needed to silence the taxmen 2-0 at Kasarani Stadium yesterday.

The victory saw the troubled shoppers survive in the top flight football after winning the first leg 1-0 at Camp Toyoyo a week ago.

“Congratulations to the boys for a job well-done. We have managed to come through under very difficult circumstances. But truth be said, we didn’t deserve to be here. Three months without pay, is way too much for these players.

“We need the owner of the club to come over and pay these players their salaries,” said Nakumatt coach Melis Medo.

Nakumatt threatened first in the 15th minute, but Clinton Kisiavuki miscued his shot in the box before Moses Odhiambo earned a free kick for the visitors at the edge of the box.

However, Tom Odwar’s resulting free kick was cleared to safety by the Nakumatt defence.

But in the 22nd minute, Waithiria received a pass at the edge of the box, shrugged off a challenge from his marker before he beautifully chipped the ball over the advancing Ushuru goalkeeper Kennedy Obwanda.

Obwanda then produced a double save to deny Waithira and Odhiambo before Ushuru made an early substitution with Maxwell Ravel replacing an injured Benson Amianda on the half hour mark.

Moments later, Eugene Ambulwa missed a free header from Odhiambo’s delivery.

Ushuru responded immediately with Ravel latching on a loose ball in the box but he was denied by the post from a close range.

Ravel came close again in the 38th minute shot miss target by inches after a brilliant run on the left flank.

Ushuru could have drawn level inside three minutes into the second half, but Ravel’s six-yard attempt went wide before Anthony Ndolo’s effort hit the side-netting. [Rodgers Eshitemi]

Oscar Mbugua then saw his effort sail over the bar as Ushuru intensified their search for an equaliser before Alex Sunga’s shot bounced off target.

Substitute John Avire’s header hit the side-netting on the opposite end before Waithira capped off his impressive performance with a last gasp strike.

In an earlier match at the same venue, Shabana beat Mwatate 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time to secure a final slot in next season’s National Super League.

Promoted SPL teams: Western Stima, Kenya Commercial Bank, Nakumatt (survived)

Relegated: Wazito, Thika United