KCB hit clawless Leopards for first season win at Afraha

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) further compounded AFC Leopards woes with a hard-fought 1-0 win to chalk up their first victory of the 20818/19 SportPesa Premier League season at Afraha Stadium on Saturday.

The bankers, who had gone for six matches without a win, grinded out a deserved win against the spluttering former Kenyan champions at Afraha.

Ingwe defender Yusuf Mainge dangerously brought down Shami Kibwana inside the box in the 38th minute prompting centre referee Zacharia Ashira to point to the spot. But Kibwana's meek shot from the spot was easily gathered by goalkeeper Jairus Adira.

But hardly a minute later, KCB were 1-0 up. Diminutive midfielder Kennedy Owino rolled with the ball on the right flank and outpaced his markers to fire home past a stranded Adira.

But the troubled Leopards hardly tested goalkeeper Zamu Adisa in KCB goal. At one stage the visibly frustrated Ingwe fans demanded for a change of guard in the technical bench with one fan shouting: “We want proper coach not tourists masquerading as coaches.”

In the 23rd minute, overlapping Leopards' defender Isaac Kipyegon unleashed a powerful blockbuster that sailed over the bar.

On resumption the bankers jealously guarded their rear-guard as they deployed all their players at the back disrupting Leopards attacking pattern as frustration galore amongst the sad fans and the technical bench increased.

Leopards sensing defeat regrouped in the last five minutes of the match attacking from the wings but their efforts did not bore any fruits.

In the last moments of the added five minutes time , Ingwe suffered yet another blow when Tsuma Said was given his marching order for a second bookable offence.

A restless AFC Leopards head coach Marko Vasilikevic, who snubbed the post match interview, made three changes - bringing in Yusuf Abdallah, Marcel Kaheza and Tutawe Wayyeka for Isaac Oduro, Dennis Shikayi and Azizi Okaka but this did not improve their blunt attack.

KCB head coach Frank Ouna also made three substitutions, resting Nicodemus Onyango, Clinton Kisiavuki and Dennis Ng’ang’a and introduced Gabriel Mugabo, Simon Munala and Bolton Omwenga.

“This win was long overdue. It's a sweet victory for me as we had the least possession of the ball and gives us morale and courage to face our next opponents without fear,” said an elated Ouna.