Ogai Salutes SPL Promotion-Chasing Western's Mental Fortitude
27th August 2018
Power men scored added time winner in nervy 3-2 victory over Administration Police that kept them top of the NSL
- Western (58) have a three-point advantage at the summit of the National Super League (NSL) over fellow power men, Nairobi Stima
- KCB FC (54) jumped above former leaders Ushuru FC (52) to third with Bidco United FC (49) rounding the top five
- With eight games left to conclude the NSL season, Ogai, the former Nakuru All Stars FC tactician, called on his side to maintain consistency and warned against laxity
- Top two finishers in the NSL will earn automatic promotion to the SPL next season
NAIROBI, Kenya- Interim Western Stima FC head coach, Paul Ogai, saluted the mental fortitude of his side following their nervy 3-2 victory against Administration Police FC over the weekend that kept them in pole position for promotion to the 2019 SportPesa Premier League (SPL).
Western (58) have a three-point advantage at the summit of the National Super League (NSL) over fellow power men, Nairobi Stima who occupy the other automatic promotion place.
KCB FC (54) jumped above former leaders Ushuru FC (52) to third with Bidco United FC (49) rounding the top five.
With eight games left to conclude the NSL season, Ogai, the former Nakuru All Stars FC tactician, called on his side to maintain consistency and warned against laxity.
“Our main focus right now is to gain promotion into the SPL. I congratulate the boys for a job well done because every game we play right now will pretty much shape the cause of our future,” Ogai told SportPesa News.
Western are seeking to immediately bounce back to the
topflight following their demotion last season and on Saturday, goals from
Erastus Mwaniki, Kelvince Ochieng and Samuel Odhiambo propelled them to the
precious victory at Nairobi’s Camp Toyoyo grounds.
A brace from Samuel Gitonga was not enough to save the 15th-placed AP (25) from defeat as Western notched their 17th success of the campaign in 28 outings.
Biggest winners
“It is at this point we realized we had a lot of work in our hands to pull back going by the time our opponents stopped the clock in their bid to frustrate our goal of collecting maximum points.
“In the end their time-wasting was their greatest undoing because we managed to notch a winner during the seven minutes of added time,” underscored Ogai.
Elsewhere, Nairobi kept their quest for a maiden SPL
appearance alive with a 2-0 victory over Kangemi All Stars FC (31) with Brian
Musa and Victor Ndinya on target to sink the 13th-placed side at Karuturi
Grounds in Naivasha.
A late Michael Osundwa goal lifted KCB over stubborn All Stars 2-1 after a 10th minute Simon Abuko opener was cancelled out by John Otieno at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.
Coast Stima FC (40) were the biggest winners on Sunday after thrashing Nairobi Slum side Kibera Black Stars FC 3-0 at Mbaraki Sports Club to climb to seventh.
Lakeside Kisumu All Stars FC settled for a barren draw with their coast opponents Modern Coast Rangers FC in the other Sunday fixture with Ushuru the only top side not in action over the weekend.
Basement side GFE 105 FC (17) thwarted Nairobi City Stars FC push for the top five with a 2-1 win to leave them two points adrift of the side above them Isibania FC.
NSL RESULT ROUND UP
Saturday
Nakuru All-Stars 1-2 KCB (Afraha Stadium, 10 am)
St. Joseph’s Youth 2-1 Green Commandos (Afraha Stadium, 12 pm)
Administration Police 2-3 Western Stima (Camp Toyoyo, 2 pm)
Talanta 2-1 Isibania (Camp Toyoyo, 4.15 pm)
Bidco United 2-1 Kenya Police (Thika Stadium, 3 pm)
Nairobi Stima 2-0 Kangemi All-Stars (Karuturi Grounds, 3 pm)
GFE 105 2-1 Nairobi City Stars (Sudi Stadium, 3 pm)
Sunday
Kisumu All Stars 0-0 Modern Coast Rangers (Moi Stadium, 12 pm)
Coast Stima 3-0 Kibera Black Stars (Mbaraki Grounds, 3 pm)