Matano Fires Title Warning After Tusker Break SPL Winning Duck
24th December 2018
Brewers dispatched bottom side Mt. Kenya 3-0 on Sunday to finally register maximum points on three attempts
- Having recruited heavily after finishing third last term, the 11-time league winners were ranked among 2018/19 title favourites but the Brewers fell flat in a 1-1 draw at Sony Sugar FC and a 0-1 defeat to early leaders Western Stima FC in their opening two games
- David Juma opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Amini Muzerwa and Kevin ‘Ade’ Omondi sealed victory with strikes in the 45th and 79th
- Elsewhere on Sunday Zoo Kericho FC also picked their first win of the season to shoot up to 14th by beating second from bottom Chemelil Sugar FC 2-0 through second-half goals from Brian Asewe and Kepha Ondati
NAIROBI, Kenya-Tusker FC head coach, Robert ‘The Lion’ Matano believes his side is finally on track to challenge for the SportPesa Premier League title after thumping Mt. Kenya United FC 3-0 on Sunday for their first victory of the season.
Having recruited heavily after finishing third last term, the 11-time league winners were ranked among 2018/19 title favourites but the Brewers fell flat in a 1-1 draw at Sony Sugar FC and a 0-1 defeat to early leaders Western Stima FC in their opening two games.
After the false start, Tusker clicked to gear at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and moved up the standings to fifth on four points, five adrift of Stima who are the only side to win all their opening three games of the season.
“It is an important victory for us and I am happy. The league has just started and we shall keep improving on our mistakes.
“We lost and drew in our last two matches and a win today means we are improving. The players must work harder. It’s just the start and we will need to be consistent,” Matano who led Tusker to the title in 2012 remarked post match.
David Juma opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Amini Muzerwa and Kevin ‘Ade’ Omondi sealed victory with strikes in the 45th and 79th.
Rock bottom
The result left Mt. Kenya (formerly known as Nakumatt FC) rock bottom of the standings with a -5 goal difference and the only side in the 18-team SPL not to register after three matches.
“We have off the pitch issues that can only be addressed by the club management. The problem is not on the pitch, my game plan was working but Tusker executed the counter attack,” head coach Anthony Mwangi lamented.
Having held on to their top flight status by beating Ushuru FC in the SPL/National Super League play-off, the club that hit turbulence when their former title partners, Nakumatt retail chain went aground are staring at a long season.
Elsewhere on Sunday Zoo Kericho FC also picked their first win of the season to shoot up to 14th by beating second from bottom Chemelil Sugar FC 2-0 through second-half goals from Brian Asewe and Kepha Ondati.
Star striker Enock Agwanda netted late to inspire Sony to their first win of the term when they stopped tricky Vihiga United FC 1-0 at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.
The sugar millers moved to the top 10 as one of the seven teams tied on four points after three rounds of play.