Africa-Press – Kenya. Jubilant Posta Rangers head coach John Kamau has extolled his charges for laying claim to a crucial win that propelled them to second on the Kenyan Premier League table on Thursday.
Kamau was over the moon after the gallant mailmen put up a valiant fight to gun down Ulinzi Stars in a hotly-contested top-tier thriller at the Ulinzi Complex.
“This is amazing. I am impressed with the kind of performance the boys displayed in the game. Collecting maximum points against a good side like Ulinzi in their backyard is no mean feat,” Kamau stated.
“We are glad we are on our way back to the top of the table after slipping a bit and we’ll do all we can to reclaim the command of the table.”
His opposite number at Ulinzi, Anthony Kimani, said they lost to a better side.
“It’s traumatising to suffer a home defeat but our opponents seemed more organised. We hope for a better outcome in our next match,” Kimani remarked.
Brian Otieno stabbed his effort into the net in the 33rd minute to fire the victors ahead after getting on the end of Caleb Olilo’s sumptuous cross.
Ulinzi squandered an opportunity to restore parity in the 49th minute when Boniface Muchiri was sent tumbling down in the area only for Hilary Simiyu
to graze the woodwork with an ambitious effort from the penalty spot.
The Nakuru-based soldiers rued the miss later in the game when they were punished dearly after second-half substitute Jackson Macharia teed up Golden Boot contender Patrick Otieno for Posta’s second goal in the 67th minute.
The outcome took Posta to 29 points, two adrift of leaders Gor Mahia, who play Bandari on Friday afternoon.
Ulinzi Stars, who suffered their ninth defeat of the season, remain 12th with 17 points.
KCB’s lofty aspirations for a maiden top-flight title were dealt a major blow after a shock 1-0 defeat to Nzoia Sugar at the Police Sacco Stadium in Nairobi.
Barisa Mohamed’s 60th-minute effort was all it took to separate the two sides at full-time. The defeat — the third of the season — saw the bankers surrender second spot to drop to third with 27 points.
Despite Thursday’s victory, the Bungoma-based sugar millers are still dangling precariously at the tail end of the standings with a paltry 14 points from 16 encounters.
Bidco United piled more misery on struggling returnees Shabana with a heartwrenching 1-0 win at Thika stadium. Eugene Ikutwa was the toast for
the Thika-based side after connecting with Chris Opondo’s assist to tap in from close range with just four minutes left.
Elsewhere, Kariobangi Sharks made light work of Nairobi rivals Talanta with a resounding 3-0 win at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
Geoffrey Onyango opened the floodlights from the spot in the 23rd minute before Keith Imbali doubled the advantage 11 minutes later.
Imbali then teed up AIK-bound Kenya Under-18 enterprising midfielder Stanley Wilson, who gladly slotted in his effort in the 57th minute to hammer the final nail into Talanta’s casket.
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