Tusker lead the log, Gor climb to third place

Mathare United’s resurgence, Gor Mahia and Tusker’s consistency highlighted the 13th round of the SportPesa Kenyan Premier League ties at the weekend.

Only two matches are remaining before the halfway stage of the league. AFC Leopards are on a free-fall towards mid-table despite an impressive start and matters seem to be deteriorating at basement club Sofapaka.

Gor Mahia struck at the death to claim their third straight victory against Western Stima in Kisumu.

The match saw Gor Mahia midfielder, Ronald Omino, triumph over his father, Stima coach Ronald Omino 1-0. This was Gor’s third game on the trot without conceding a goal.

“We have understood our players, they are adapting to our ideas and game plan. Our target is to improve gradually,” Gor Mahia coach Jose Marcelo “Ze Maria” told Daily Nation Sport.

CLIMBED SEVEN PLACES

Defending champions K’Ogalo have now climbed seven places to third position on the log behind leaders Tusker and the “Slum Boys’, who are second.

Tusker added to Sofapaka’s woes with a 1-0 in Machakos on Saturday. Burly Ghanaian striker Stephen Owusu, Noah Wafula and midfielder Humphrey Mieno are Tusker coach Paul Nkata’s key men.

Mathare are increasingly positioning themselves as serious title contenders after bagging their maiden crown in 2008. The “Slum Boys” chalked up a 1-0 win away to Bandari in Mombasa on Sunday, earning the team its seventh win from 13 league games so far.

Obadiah Ndege and last season’s best midfielder Eric Johanna, have scored five and three goals, respectively, for the Francis Kimanzi-coached Mathare.

In mid-table, Leopards have now gone five matches without a win after losing 1-0 to Muhoroni Youth in Kisumu on Saturday.

Some aggrieved stakeholders at the den have blamed the downward spiral on a clash of interests by the club’s Interim Management Committee. However, lead striker Kepha Aswani disagrees.

“It’s just a poor run in form. We’re working hard, you’ll notice the change,” he said.