Posta Rangers deny Ulinzi Stars in Nakuru

Boniface Onyango of Ulinzi Stars (centre) dribbles past Posta Rangers' Moses Otieno (right) and Mbugi Joseph during their Kenyan Premier League match at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on August 24, 2016. The teams drew 0-0. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |

What you need to know:

  • Nine-man Thika United share spoils with Bandari
  • Misfiring soldiers drop key points without the services of suspended goal poacher Makwata

Ulinzi Stars dropped two vital points in their quest for the Kenyan Premier League title after battling to a barren draw with Posta Rangers at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Wednesday.

In the fast-paced match, both sides threw everything into play as the attack shifted from one end to the other, but the strikers could not find the target.

Rangers, fresh from the Kenya Communication Sports Organisation (Kecoso) games at the same venue, where they lost 2-1 to Bandari in the final, should have opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Collins Neto penetrated through the Ulinzi defence but shot wide.

The soldiers’ week-long absence from the league as they were engaged in the in the regional Military Games in Kigali, Rwanda was evident, as fatigue took a toll on the players.

The soldiers missed the services of Eric Apul and Churchill Muloma — who are on the injury list — and suspended goal poacher John Makwata.

Ulinzi’s overlapping defender Cylus Shitote had a last-gasp shot from the edge of the box blocked into play by Posta goalkeeper Patrick Matasi before it was cleared.

“We have just come from the Military Games in Rwanda and fatigue was our main undoing as we started training on Sunday but we hope to recover in our next match,” said deputy coach Benjamin Nyagweso, who is standing in for head coach Robert “The Lion” Matano, who is on sick leave.

Rangers’ head coach Zedekiah Otieno declined to speak to the Press.

Ulinzi return to the same venue on Saturday when they take on Chemelil in the Gotv Shield last-16 match.

Elsewhere in a drama filled match at the Thika Municipal Stadium, Thika United and visiting Bandari shared the spoils after battling to a dramatic 1-1 draw.

Former Nairobi City Stars player Joel Tata put Thika ahead at the stroke of half-time and the milk men seemed destined for victory until Anthony Kimani pulled a dramatic equaliser with a last gasp effort.

Thika were reduced to nine men after skipper Dennis Odhiambo got his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 66th minute and Eugene Mukangula followed him to the lockers, too for the same offence with five minutes left.