Kisumu All Stars edge Kibera Black Stars

Kisumu All Stars on Wednesday stretched their unbeaten streak to eight matches when they edged out Kibera Black Stars 1-0 in a National Super League match at Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

Dennis Oalo’s first half strike was enough to hand Blue Eagles, as Kisumu All Stars is fondly known, maximum points in a midweek clash in the lakeside city. They now sit fourth on the log with 16 points from four wins and four draws.

A satisfied Kisumu coach Francis Oduor said that he was encouraged with the team’s unbeaten start to the league.

"The game was good and I am happy we got the results we wanted. It is encouraging because we have not lost, we hope we can take this run the entire season," he said.

Geoffrey Oduor, the Kibera Black Stars coach, was disappointed not to have bagged maximum points in this encounter. "The game has been good we came to win but that has not happened, we are looking to bounce back in our next game," he said.

Kisumu started the match the better side and almost took the lead on fourth minute when Shadrack Omondi’s long range effort cannoned off the crossbar. Seth Oyugi’s follow up header was easily dealt with by Evans Adache in Kibera’s post.

Oalo broke the deadlock in 17th minute when he latched on Omondi’s through pass to smash home past a stranded Adache, his eighth goal of the season.

Stung into action, Kibera’s Dennis Ochieng found Tony Baraza with a long pass from the right wing as they sought an immediate response but Bobby Kwana cleared the danger.

The visiting side continued pressing for an equalizer and they were nearly rewarded in 35th minute when Nicholas Dendwa fired a long range strike that had Kisumu keeper Godfrey Were scrambling to parry it away for a fruitless corner kick. Ten minutes later, Elvis Odhiambo beat his marker with pace to send in a cross that Baraza headed over the bar, Kisumu surviving another Kibera raid.

After the breather, the hosts came back stronger as the Kisumu rains seemed to slow down Kibera but they could not extend their lead as Omondi had the ball in the back of the net in 58th minute but was ruled out by assistant referee’s flag.

Kibera tactician Oduor threw in Mahab Ogwel and Fredrick Oloo as Moses Otieno left the pitch on a stretcher and Elvis Ojimabo limped out. The changes were however futile as Kisumu held on to fish three points from this NSL encounter.