Rangers Coach Kamau Focused On Next Season After Slim Playoff Victory

NAIROBI, Kenya- Relieved Posta Rangers FC head coach John Kamau hailed his charges for hanging on to their SportPesa Premier League (SPL) status with a 3-2 two-legged victory over Nairobi Stima FC as he shifted focus to next season.

The former Thika United FC and national Under 20 boss had two-goal hero Francis Nambute to thank after he guided his side to a 3-2 aggregate victory over the National Super League (NSL) to extend their three-year stay in the SPL.

Stima were seeking to be the first team to be promoted to the SPL via the promotion/relegation playoffs that were introduced three seasons ago after finishing third in the second tier league.

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Both sides played out to a 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Kenyatta Stadium on Wednesday, Stima getting on the scoresheet through Dennis Oalo, who also scored in the first leg.

“I am really happy with the boys for the effort they have put in to ensure that we will be in the league next season.

“We finished this game in the first leg and our main objective was to control the game and make sure that we did not lose, which we did,” Kamau told SportPesa News.

Stima dominated the game and were unfortunate not to score a winner despite 12 second half attempts on goal that Rangers keeper Gradus Ochieng’ did well to keep the scores level.

Rangers finished the 2018/19 season in 16th with 32 points, only managing seven wins throughout the fairly dismal campaign by the mailmen.

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“I commend Stima for the game they played. They threw everything at us but we did extremely well to contain them,” the tactician added.

“They had nothing to lose and we were leading so we expected the pressure and I had no doubt that we could maintain.

“They are a more physical side because of the kind of football played in the NSL and this was a real test for us,” Kamau continued.

The official 2019/20 SPL fixtures list, which was released early Friday morning, sees Rangers begin their campaign against John Baraza’s Sofapaka FC on Saturday, August 31.

Kamau admits their efforts last season were far from commendable and despite the struggle, he remains eager and ready to turn around their fortunes in the new campaign.

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“Now that our league status is assured, we have to focus on changing the way we go into next season so we can prove that we deserve to play in the top flight.

“We need a few new signings to bolster the squad and I believe that we have what it takes to better our last season’s performance,” Kamau concluded.