Nakumatt fightback to hold AFC Leopards

It was yet another draw for new AFC Leopards coach Rodolfo Zapata on Saturday after Nakumatt rallied from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with his team at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Zapata, who took the reins at the club three weeks ago, is yet to taste victory in the three games he has been in charge at Ingwe, and watched as his team threw away a 2-0 first half lead and ended up with a single point.

In Narok, 2009 champions Sofapaka came from a goal down to beat Zoo Kericho 2-1, as Mathare United failed yet again to close the gap at the top by settling for a barren draw against Bandari in Machakos.

At Machakos where there was a double header, the players involved staged a minute-long sit-in before the two games, leaving the few spectators as well as the match officials perplexed.

At the start of each match, players from AFC Leopards, Mathare United, Nakumatt and Bandari went down on one knee after taking positions on the pitch and stayed in that position in silence in front of the glaring MediaPro cameras.

They later said that this was in solidarity with their players from clubs without sponsors and who are enduring long periods without pay due to lack of sufficient funds.

Leopards displayed confidence and panache in the second game. Whyvonne Isuza managed a brace to give Ingwe a comfortable first half lead, but this was ruined by Eugene Ambulwa and Brian Nyakan who scored late in the second half to earn a point from the match.

Argentine coach Zapata opted for a 4-3-3 formation that had Baker Lukooya, Jaffery Odeny and Ezekiel Odera at the apex, as Dennis Sikhayi, Robinson Kamura, Salim Abdalla and Duncan Otieno stood in defence. His opposite number from Nakumatt saw strength in the high number of ex-Ingwe players on his side, and fielded one in every department.

Lucas Indeche started in goal, as Eugene Ambulwa and Timonah Wanyonyi started in defence and midfield respectively.

Ingwe were in total control of the game, and went up in the third minute when Whyvonne Isuza evaded his marker on his way home before pumping the ball home behind Indeche.

Isuza, formerly of Mathare United, ignited once more in the 36th minute when he engaged in a wonderful exchange with Jaffery Odeny before taking the last shot and sending it beyond Indeche’s reach.

It was until the 75th minute that the retailers however pulled one back. Ex-Leopards defender Ambulwa, who had been impressive for Nakumatt, headed home a well taken corner from Cornelius Juma.

A lapse in concentration in the 82nd minute saw Nakumatt midfielder Brian Nyakan sneak unnoticed behind the Ingwe defence and tap in the equaliser.

“This is more like a win because AFC is a very big club. The usual mistakes cost us but I congratulate my boys for fighting back hard,” said Nakumatt coach Anthony Mwangi.

RESULTS

Mathare United 0-0 Bandari

Sofapaka 2-1 Zoo Kericho

AFC Leopards 2-2 Nakumatt