GRAND MARCH: KPL sides Ulinzi, Muhoroni Youth and Bandari advance in GOtv Shield tourney

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) sides easily made it to the second round of the GOtv shield tournament after dispatching their opponents yesterday.

Ulinzi Stars edged out Shabana 3-2 at Safaricom Kasarani Stadium while Muhoroni Youth thrashed Zetech University 3-0 as Bandari sent Savanah packing after 2-0 victory.

At Thika Municipal Stadium, Thika United routed Amboseli 5-0 in yet another first round fixture.

Ulinzi Stars were lifted by goals from Kevin Amwayi who scored twice and another one from Oliver Ruto.

Shabana’s goals were scored by Congolese forward Demonde Selenga and Francis Ochola.

The win left Ulinzi coach Robert Matano excited and looking forward to doing better in the later stages of the competition.

“Being a knock-out tournament, it is always challenging and it is important that we start well which we have done today and I am excited by this result,” he said.

In Mombasa, Farid Mohammed scored the opener for Bandari in the ninth minute before Omar Barafya added a second three minutes later to ensure the porters are through to the next round.

WAZITO SHINE

Elsewhere, Wazito beat Kiambu All Stars 3-0 on the second day of the GOtv shield tournament in a match played at Kasarani last evening.

Goals from Piston Vunyoli, Patience Lukige and Wycliffe Wanjie were enough to help the National Super League side start the competition on a positive note.

Coming into the match, All Stars were the underdogs but were quick to settle down. They should have been one goal up by the third minute had Ayub Lubwa netted with a rasping shot from the 25 yard which forced Stephen Njunge in goal to make a finger tip save.

But the inexperience of All Stars began to show as the match progressed and it was evident early on that they were in trouble. In the 15th minute while trying to stop a counter-attack move, a Kiambu All Stars defender instead handled the ball and the match referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Pinston Vunyoli stepped up to take the penalty and scored. The goal motivated Wazito and they could easily have been up once again at the quarter hour mark had Vunyoli been more precise with the ball.

The team from Kiambu appeared to dictate pace a little bit but once again were let down by inexperience as they could not convert the chances which came their way.

While All Stars struggled to put the ball behind the net, Wazito were unrelenting in their quest for more goals and Patience Lukige did not make a mistake as he converted the second goal in the 70th minute.

Two minutes later, Wycliffe Wanjie netted the third and final goal to ensure Wazito made it through to the second round.

-Reports by Gilbert Wandera, Ernest Ndunda and Bosco Magare