Kakamega Homeboyz edge Thika United

Former Kenyan Premier League champions Sofapaka started their season on a sour note as they were beaten 3-0 by Bandari at the Narok county Stadium on Sunday.

Anthony Wambani grabbed a brace in this match, while diminutive midfielder David King’atua added a goal of his own as the 2009 champions found it impossible to respond.

At Thika Sub County Stadium, new look Kakamega Homeboyz humbled hosts Thika United 1-0 in a pulsating match, as Mathare United beat debutants Vihiga United 2-1 at the revamped Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.

Vihiga, who earned automatic promotion to the top flight football after winning the National Super League last year, stunned Mathare when Dennis Wafula snatched the opener in the 23rd minute.

Clifford Alwanga, who was signed from Tusker last month, managed to equalise for Mathare in the 46th minute, and he was on the mark again in the 79th minute to seal his opponents’ fate.

Vihiga coach Edward Manoah preferred to start with his old players in the squad. He only deployed two new signings in the shapes of defender Tera Fernandez, who was signed from Talanta, and Jonathan Mugabi acquired from Sofapaka.

Mathare tactician Francis Kimanzi on the other hand deployed four of his new signings, including goalkeeper Robert Mboya, defence kingpin Francis Omondi (Modern Coast) and John Mwangi (Wazito).

Buoyed by a large crowed that turned up to watch the match, Vihiga dominated the better part of the first half and they could have found the opener as early as the fifth minute when Amos Kigadi’s shot was punched over the cross bar by custodian Mboya.

It was not until the 23rd minute that Patrick Okullo put through Wafula on the edge of the box, and the latter beat Mathare custodian Mboya for the opener.

After the breather, Mathare returned a more rejuvenated side. In the 46th minute, Edward Seda put through Alwanga, who wasted no time to plant the ball in the far left corner of the net beyond Tiema’s reach.

Mathare were on the mark again when Seda again put through Alwanga, who outplayed defender Soita Silicho to the ball to score the second in the 79th minute.

“We took an early lead and instead of working on it the boys wasted several scoring chances,” said Vihiga coach Edward Manoah.

In Thika, veteran striker Allan Wanga accounted for the sole goal that sunk the hosts, effectively ending the goal drought that saw him fall out of favour with his previous employers Tusker.

Wanga struck in the 12th minute by making the most of goalkeeper Eliud Emase's ineptitude. The former Tusker striker scooped the ball outside the box, drove inwards towards the onrushing Emase before positioning himself in perfect position to place the ball on the far post.

The Kenyan international was part of the revamped Homeboyz squad that spotted Noah Wafula and James Situma who were his former team mates at Tusker last year.

Wafula started upfront in Mike Mururi's squad and split the goal scoring duties with Ali Bhai.

Situma marshalled the team's defence that had Moses Chikati, Collins Kisuya and Moses Chikati, as former Gor Mahia goalkeeper David Juma stood between the posts.

Unlike Homeboyz, Thika did not make as many high profile signings in the last transfer window, and largely retained the squad that featured for the team last year.

SUNDAY'S RESULTS

Vihiga United 1-2 Mathare United (Bukhungu)

Sofapaka 0-3 Bandari (Narok Stadium)

Thika United 0-1 Kakamega Homeboyz (Thika Stadium)