Goals galore as FKF Premier League starts taking shape

Captain KCB's Simon Munala (left) and AFC's Collins Sichenja during FKF PL at Kasarani Stadium on Sun, Jan 17, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Tusker, AFC Leopards end table-toppers unbeaten run as Rangers and Nzoia finally get their first win of the season.

There were goals galore in round eight of the 2020/21 FKF Premier League season with goals flying in and unbeaten runs broken as the league starts to take shape.

Remarkably, 25 goals were scored over the weekend including seven and six-goal thrillers in Mombasa and Kasarani Stadium respectively.

The only problem is that fans have not yet been allowed to come back to the stadium to witness the live action due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was a bad weekend for league leaders KCB and third-placed Kariobangi Sharks as the duo’s unbeaten streak came to halt following defeats to AFC Leopards (2-1) and on-form Tusker (4-2) respectively.

Despite the loss, KCB are still at the top of the table with 18 points, ahead of second-placed Tusker while Ingwe have moved into the fifth spot with 12 points same as Bandari, who have been edged out on a goal difference.

Though admittedly there was some very poor defending and goalkeeping incidents with five red cards issued (Rodgers Aloro-Tusker, William Wadri-Bandari, Lawrence Juma-Sofapaka, Charles Odette-Posta Rangers and Junior-Vihiga United in round eight, but the type of goals scored were also of some quality.

Leading scorer Eric Kapaito (Kariobangi Sharks, 11 goals) was among the six players that netted a brace as the race for the golden boot heats up.

Kapaito, who has scored in almost all the first eight fixtures for Sharks, thought he had opened up a five-goal gap in the goal-scoring chart when he hit a double against Tusker on Saturday, only for his closest challenger Elvis Rupia of AFC Leopards to pop up and also score a brace the following day against KCB.

Rupia’s second double of the season took his goals tally to eight, three behind the former Kenyan Premier League player of the year.

Tusker teenage sensation Henry Meja also scored twice and set up Brian Marita’s second goal of the match against Sharks.

The Kakamega High alumnus, who has been a revelation in his first full season in the topflight football since joining the brewers from Kakamega’s Lirhembe Arsenal last year, is tied on four goals with third-placed David Majak (Tusker), Elli Asieche (Sofapaka) and Kevin Kimani (Wazito).

It was the same scenario in Mombasa on Saturday with Abdallah Hassan (Bandari) and Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega) netting a brace each in an epic seven-goal thriller for their respective clubs.

But the weekend could not have been complete without some upsets and red-cards. 

Ibrahim Shikanda’s Nzoia Sugar and Sammy Omollo’s Posta Rangers finally chalked up their first win of the campaign after the millers stunned ten-man Sofapaka 2-1 in Bungoma as the mailmen overcame their hosts Vihiga United in Mumias.

Lawrence Juma, whose hattrick inspired Batoto Ba Mungu to a 4-2 victory over Mathare United in their previous match, turned from a hero to villain on his return to his former club (Nzoia) as he was red-carded in the injury time less than half an hour after pulling a goal back for Sofapaka.

And 30 kilometres away from Bungoma, both Vihiga and Posta had to finish the game with ten men each following the sendoff of Junior (Vihiga, 80’) and Charles Odette (Posta, 96’).

Wazito FC's Kevin Kimani (from left), Fidel Origa and Musa Masika reacts in celebration after Kevin scored agoal against AFC Leopards during FKF Premier League match at Utali Club grounds on Saturday, Jan 10, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

William Wadri was also given his marching orders on the stroke of halftime just 32 minutes after doubling the dockers’ lead against visiting Homeboyz.

Tusker saved Rodgers Aloro’s blushes as they held on to win the match against Sharks despite the Ugandan being sent off in the 53rd minute.

FKF PL Round Eight results

Bandari 4-3 Kakamega Homeboyz

Nairobi City Stars 1-1 Ulinzi Stars

Nzoia Sugar 2-1 Sofapaka

Tusker 4-2 Kariobangi Sharks

Bidco United 1-2 Wazito

AFC Leopards 2-1 KCB

Vihiga United 0-1 Posta Rangers

Round Eight brace heroes

Eric Kapaito (Kariobangi Sharks)

Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards)

Henry Meja (Tusker)

Brian Marita (Tusker)

Abdallah Hassan (Bandari)

Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz)

Round Eight red-cards

Rodgers Aloro (Tusker)

 William Wadri (Bandari)

Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka)

Charles Odette (Posta Rangers)

Junior (Vihiga United)