By Gilbert Wandera
Gor Mahia coach Zdravko Logarusic received public support from fans as the team won 2-1 against Nairobi City Stars at City Stadium on Saturday.
Fans erected a huge banner inside the stadium saying ‘In Logarusic We
Trust’ at the top and ‘Office Keep off the Coaching Department’ at the bottom in a rare show of support for the Croatian.
There were reports early in the week of interference by some club officials in the technical bench causing Logarusic to complain that he did not have full support in handling the team.
Former Tusker striker George Midenyo opened the account for Gor in the
26th minute with a brilliant shot that left Ronnie Kagunzi in goal stranded. It was Midenyo’s first league goal for Gor Mahia after signing from Tusker four months ago. Midenyo set-up Baldwin Ngwa to score the second goal six minutes later but City Stars goalkeeper will take some blame for allowing the goal.
Kagunzi should have held onto a Midenyo harmless shot but he let it go only for Ngwa to tap it home and sent the fans into frenzy.
Better team
City Stars had appeared the better side when the match kicked off and had more chances but it was still surprising why Coach Gideon Ochieng had left out top scorer Dan Serunkuma from the starting line-up.
The Ugandan import came on early in the second half and scored for the losers in the 68th minute after winning the ball from Teddy Akumu another second half substitute.
City Stars maintained huge chunks of possession the second half as Gor fought to defend their slim lead breathing a sigh of relief as the centre referee blew the final whistle.
In Thika, Kepha Aswani, who has been recalled to Harambee Stars, returned the favour by leading Thika United to a 1-0 win over visiting Muhoroni Youth. Aswani’s goal came after 48 minutes of play finishing off a Moses Arita effort to push his side to the top four position. Muhoroni shrugged off the absence of former coach Alfred Imonje to give a better account of themselves in both halves. They were unlucky not to get anything from this match though the results just confirmed their poor away record. Muhoroni remain eighth on the log with 15 points.
In Nakuru, Ulinzi Stars secured their second Kenyan Premier League victory in a row after they defeated Sony Sugar 2-1 at Afraha Stadium on Saturday. Ulinzi took advantage of the sugar millers’ shaky defence to stab home the opener in the 46th minute from Evans Amuoka’s long drive beating Sony Sugar custodian Shaban Ouma.
Amuoka was on the mark again in the 52nd minute from a goalmouth tussle. Ulinzi midfielder Steve Ocholla scored an own goal to gift Sony Sugar the consolation.
