Omalla hat-trick sends Gor to top of the FKF Premier League table

Gor Mahia FC Benson Omalla celebrates his goal during FKF Premier League match against Wazito FC at The Moi International Sports Center Kasarani. Feb 14, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Benson Omalla scored a first half hat-trick as Gor Mahia made a light work of Wazito by thrashing them 4-0 to dislodge Nzoia Sugar from the top of the FKF Premier League standings.

The hat-trick in Tuesday's rescheduled match at Kasarani Stadium saw the former Western Stima striker take his season tally to 15 goals. This was Omalla's second hat-trick of the season.

John Ochieng then hit the final nail in Wazito's casket late in the game to help the record Kenyan champions return at the top for the second time this campaign.

Gor have so far garnered 33 points, two points ahead of surprise-package Nzoia Sugar who have played a game more.

Omalla gave Gor the lead in the eighth minute before doubling the scores four minutes after the half hour mark. The Kisumu Day High School alumnus completed his hattrick on the stroke of halftime and consequently kept his golden boot dream alive.

Gor Mahia will now open a five-point gap if they defeat Mathare United in their remaining game in hand.

Mathare United who are currently lingering in the relegation zone will be in action today when they play Kariobangi Sharks at Kasarani Annex from 3pm.

Fresh from picking their second win of the season, the Slum Boys will be facing their wounded rivals who have not won any match in their last three outings.

Bottom-placed Vihiga Bullets face Bidco United in Mumias.

Meanwhile, Ugandan Paul Nkata has made a return to Kenyan football after being appointed as Wazito coach.

He will take over from Jaffers Odongo, who switched to Kakamega Homeboyz on Monday as assistant coach. At Wazito, Nkata will be assisted by Ibrahim Ateng.

Nkata is no stranger to Kenyan football as he has previously coached Muhoroni Youth, Kakamega Homeboyz, Nairobi City Stars,Tusker and Bandari.

He won the Premier League title with Tusker in 2016.

In 2019, his reign at Homeboyz ended prematurely for allegedly being involved in match-fixing, prompting the coach to resign and return to his native Uganda.

Wazito have had a rough start to season losing eight out of 13 FKF Premier League fixtures. The team has only won twice and drawn three times.

On Monday, Kakamega Homeboyz named Patrick Odhiambo as the new coach.

Odhiambo will be making a comeback to the club where he served as an assistant coach to replace former Kenyan international John Baraza who was fired last Thursday.

Odhiambo will be assisted by former Bandari and Nzoia Sugar coach Ibrahim Shikanda and immediate former Wazito boss Jaffers Odongo.

Veteran coach Edward Manaoh remains the technical director with John Wah serving as goalkeeper trainer.

Odhiambo briefly served as Kakamega Homeboyz assistant coach at the start of the 2020/21 season before he left in May 2021 for Tanzanian Premier League (TPL) side Biashara United.

He parted ways with Biashara United in January 2022 and joined Prisons FC in July.

He was fired by Prisons FC last month.

Odhiambo was Steven Polack's assistant at Gor Mahia in the 2019/20 season.

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