WHAT HAPPENED
We kickstarted our second-round of fixtures campaign with a dominant 1-0 victory over Wajiji FC at Tom Mboya Primary School Grounds on Saturday.
Rodgers ‘Skiba’ Ochieng provided the game’s important goal, while Malcolm Owino and Tyson Oketch impressed on their first outing as fullbacks.
This was the first match the new head coach Ezekiel Akwana was on the touchline. There were clear signs of his high-pressing, high-intensity attacking style in our play.
Skiba started the game full of energy and fired two long-range efforts wide, before combining with Joshua ‘Mello’ Otieno for a number of promising moves down the left-wing.
We continued to press as a unit and following a surging run from Feisah Kadir through the middle, a quick interchange with Tyson Oketch who reached the byline and cut the ball back to Skiba who fired home from inside the penalty area.
We dominated play throughout the first half with our opponents seeming to lack ideas on how to break the resolute defensive partnership of Zedekiah ‘Loco’ Otieno and Edwin ‘Dwin’ Onyango. There were more gaps appearing, that we were looking to exploit on the counter. Felix ‘Kabuda’ Okumu raced away on one such attack, only to see his shot go wide.
The second half saw some pre-planned changes being made. Coach Ezekiel Akwana brought in Victor Augo in goal after first-choice goalkeeper Felix Okola was taken off after sustaining a knee injury.
The visitors tried to pin us back at the start of the second half, as a team we had to remain organised in and around our own penalty box. Victor had virtually nothing to do until the 77th minute until he touched over a looping shot from the visitors’ captain, then commanded his box well to punch away. We had done enough though to earn all three points and begin the second leg on a high.
TEAM NEWS
We started the match with a new backline. Tyson Oketch and Malcolm Owino slotted back to the defence line. Dwin partnered Loco at the heart of the defence in the absence of Job Kenga and Edwin Onsongo. Felix ‘Kabuda’ Okumu made his first start of the season partnering Skiba. Samuel Kasam Njaga also missed the match for family reasons.
Starting lineup:
Felix Okola (Victor Augo), Malcolm Owino, Tyson Oketch, Zedekia Otieno, Edwin, Meshack Muyonga, Brian Chege, Feisa Kadir (Ronaldo Ochieng), Joshua Otieno (Brian Oketch) Rodgers Ochieng, Felix Okumu
Unused subs
Edwin Onsongo, Brian Ndegwa,
WHAT’S NEXT
Up next, we will face Thunderbirds FC on Sunday, August 15th. The game will take place at Laikipia Airt base with kick-off at 3:00 PM
