Vincent Oburu's strike guides Ingwe past Chemelil Sugar

GOtv Shield champions AFC Leopards on Sunday beat Chemelil Sugar 1-0 in an entertaining but highly controversial match staged at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani.

Dubious calls by centre referee Zachariah Ashira at certain periods of the match evoked anger and frustration from the visiting team, and coach Abdalla Juma said afterwards that he wished he had a whistle.

"Our team is really struggling due to lack of funds. The players have understood the company's challenges and they are playing with passion, only for a referee to come and influence the outcome of the match. That is so painful and unfair.

"There are so many intentional fouls that the referee pretended not to see, including those inside the box, yet he saw so and punished many of the imaginary fouls commuted by my players. In that situation I am helpless. I don't have a whistle," the frustrated coach said after the match.

Vincent Oburu came through with the game's decisive moment, an eighth minute goal that ensured his team collected maximum points pending their final match of the season against Muhoroni Youth next weekend.

Oburu gave the big cats the early lead in the match by pouncing on a pass from Salim Abdalla and sending it straight home.

This proved enough to give Ingwe maximum points and also ensured that their quest to finish within the top right league positions remains well on course.

Ingwe came into this match just a week after securing their survival in the SportPesa Premier League, and they appeared more at ease while tackling their relegation battling opponents.

They almost got a second goal in the 35th minute, when Andrew Tololwa unleashed a powerful shot after being teed up by former Gor Mahia midfielder Musa Mudde, but his effort hit the crossbar.

Tololwa's second effort came three minutes later, but Chemelil custodian Jairus Adira was alert to punch the ball out of danger.

The sugar millers got their first real chances towards the end of the first half, but Collins Neto and Shafan Siwa both missed the target to allow Ingwe enjoy a 1-0 lead heading into the half time break.

Ingwe continued to show dominance in the second half, and Tololwa almost got his name into the scoresheet in the 53rd minute with a well curled free kick, but Adira made a fingertip save and guided the ball over the bar.

Chemelil responded with a wonderful move four minutes later when Jafari Udeny managed to penetrate the Ingwe defence, but his resultant shot was punched out by Andika and into the feet of John Mwita who shot wide much to the chagrin of the Chemelil coach.

Yusuf Juma dispatched a sumptuous free kick in the 81st minute and this looked like the equaliser the team his worked so hard for, but it went just inches wide.

The result saw Ingwe rise to 10th place on the table as Chemelil remained 12th.