Aboud Omar of Kenya Police - Photo Courtesy Police Media.
Kenya Police continued with their upward surge in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) following a hard-fought 1-0 win against promoted side Mara Sugar on Saturday.
The law enforcers had endured a poor start to the campaign which saw them fire head coach Salim Babu and the entire technical bench and replace him with 45-year-old Burundian Etienne Ndayiragije.
Since taking charge, Ndayiragije, who formerly handled the Burundi national team, has won two matches. His first was a resounding 3-1 victory against Nairobi City Stars and now the 1-0 win against Mara.
Against Mara, defender Aboud Omar scored what turned out to be the winner in the 45th minute. The Harambee Stars defender scored direct from a free-kick from outside the box, leaving Mara goalkeeper stranded.
The win saw Police move up to position nine on the 18-team league with 14 points from 10 matches. They have managed three wins, five draws and two defeats. The defeat saw Mara drop to sixth with 16 points from 12 matches.
Elsewhere, Tusker needed two first half goals to sink Mathare United at SportPesa Arena in Muranga. John Njuguna and James Kibande were on target for the Brewers, who have now won four matches in a row.
After losing 3-2 against KCB, the Brewers went ahead to beat Nairobi City Stars 1-0, Mara Sugar 2-1, Murang'a Seal 3-1 and now Mathare United 2-0. Against the 'Slum Boys', Tusker had a good start and should have gone ahead early on when defender and captain Charles Momanyi’s looping header from a George Kaddu cross beat the keeper but was cleared off the line.
Ryan Ogam also had a rasping shot from the edge of the box fly just inches over the bar. However, the goal finally arrived in the 21st minute, Njuguna netting his first of the season.
The midfielder picked Fabian Adikiny’s pass on the right and with the first take struck a cross into the box.
However, the ball landed behind the keeper, who had stepped a few metres off his line and into the net. The second goal saw Shaphan put Kibande through on goal, the winger darting off his marker before unleashing a brilliant low shot that beat the keeper.
The win enabled Tusker to move second with 21 points from 11 matches. They have won six matches, drawn three and lost two. Tusker are now one point behind table leaders KCB.For the 'Slum Boys' the defeat saw them drop to position eighth with 15 points from 11 matches.
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