2015 KPL Review: Positive start for Gor, Sofa as Ingwe, Tusker draw
The 2015 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) kicked off over the weekend with a total of seven matches played; four on Saturday 21 February and three on Sunday 22 February.
A total of 19 goals were scored; two of which came from the penalty spot with both Ishmail Dunga and Noah Abich converting the two penalties awarded. No red card was dished out in either match.
Six goal thriller
On Saturday, KCB would not have wished to start the season with a loss but it was an inevitable situation for the Ruaraka based side, falling 0 – 2 to Western Stima in the first match of this year’s campaign played at the Nairobi City Stadium.
The second match saw youngster Michael Olunga, who has been a talking point to critics for forgetting his scoring boots at home, finally got back his scoring touch with a brace and could not hide his staunch faith in the Almighty by displaying a T-shirt with a special message ‘My God is Able’ during their 4 - 2 win over Dutch trained Stanley Okumbi's Mathare United.
The six goal thriller also saw two other players Noah Abich and Victor Ali Hassan Abondo claim a brace each. Abich converted from dead ball situation on both occasions, the second goal from a free kick that seemed an early contester of the Goal of the Season as Abondo made it five goals in three competitive matches on his return to K’Ogalo.
Major percentage
Elsewhere in Nakuru, Zedekiah Zico Otieno’s SoNy Sugar seemed not affected by the pressure of playing away from home after a famous 2 – 0 victory over the most decorated coach in Robert Matano’s arsenals - Ulinzi Stars.
At Thika County Stadium, Tusker FC could not replicate a major percentage of their positive preseason programme after being held to a 1 – 1 by a rather silently assembled Thika United squad who, had it not been for a vigilant Tusker backline led by debutant James Situma, would have broken the jinx of sharing spoils with the ten time champions on opening day of the season with a last gasp win.
On Sunday, last season’s runners up, Sofapaka had to come from a goal down to see off a new looking Ushuru FC 2 - 1 at Machakos Stadium. The most remarkable event to note was Moses Sengera Arita’s return to competitive football in a style after close to eight months out.
Defensive frailties
The former Thika United, Tusker FC and SoNy Sugar man utilized Sofapaka shot-stopper Evarise Mutuyimana’s comical mistake in his territory to score arguably the fastest goal of the season in the 2nd minute.
The Ken Kenyatta coached side would however pay dearly for their defensive frailties and a lapse in midfield the two goals from veteran John Baraza and left back Collins Shivachi, the latter undoubtedly deserved the man of the match plaudits.
After doing it on the first day of the 2014 season against Ushuru FC in Mombasa, Bandari FC just showed what they are made of when at home by stopping visiting Muhoroni Youth 3 – 1 thanks to Ugandan defender Andrew Waiswa, new boy David King’atua and promising striker Juma Masoud's goals, the latter opening his top flight account on his second season.
Zdravko Logarusic
Finally, AFC Leopards could get inspiration from the charismatic Zdravko Logarusic who made a touchline return after months out to cruise past Chemelil Sugar with the two sides battling to a barren draw at Afraha Stadium.
KPL 2015
| NO | Team | M | PT |
| 1 | Gor Mahia | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Bandari | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | SoNy Sugar | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Western Stima | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Sofapaka | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Thika United | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Tusker FC | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | AFC Leopards | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Chemelil Sugar | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | Ushuru FC | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Mathare United | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | Muhoroni Youth fc | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | KCB | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Ulinzi Stars | 1 | 0 |
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