Ulinzi Stars handed debutants Kisumu All Stars a 2-0 defeat in a tense but exciting match at Moi Stadium in Kisumu yesterday.
Enosh Ochieng picked up from where he left last season by netting two second-half goals in five minutes to steer Benjamin Nyagweso side to his first win of the season.
Nyagweso praised his charges for coming out stronger after the break and controlling the match.
“We didn’t start the match well in the first half and did a lot of defending as we tried studying our opponents. The second half was, however, great with Enosh coming out lively to show what he can do,” Nyagweso said.
His Kisumu counterpart Henry Omino blamed the loss on the club’s inexperience on their comeback to the top flight league after 20 years.
“We were not clinical in the first half and started slowly in the second half leading to the early goals. This is a learning loss to us and we will come back stronger,” he said.
Kisumu started the match on a high with new signings Wesley Kemboi and Alvin Ochieng firing rasping shots at the goal. The two teams fought for possession with most of the action played out in the midfield as Ulinzi’s defense stood firm.