Ushuru SPL Promotion Charge Ticks On, Shabana Fall

NAIROBI, Kenya- After missing the SportPesa Premier League for the second successive season by losing the first and second division play-off, 10-man Ushuru FC arrested Administration Police FC 2-0 to continue their charge towards an automatic promotion ticket.

Having made a promising start to the campaign, fallen giants Shabana FC who earned promotion to the NSL after a season in the third division suffered their second successive defeat when they came unstuck in a 0-1 defeat away at Eldoret Youth FC.  

The taxmen top the second tier National Super League (NSL) standings on 22 points, three above resurgent FC Talanta having won seven and drawn one of their opening eight games with Wazito FC (18) who were relegated from the SPL on their debut last term sealing the top three.

Ken Kenyatta’s side who are hoping to get the work done at the third time of asking following their demotion to the NSL went ahead in the first half when David Otieno tucked in the opener from the spot at Camp Toyoyo in Nairobi.

Otieno however, turned from hero to villain when the defender saw a straight red for a professional foul when he scythed AP forward Alfred Chole as the last man when his opponent was through on goal early in the final stanza.

Final whistle

Michael Osundwa who joined the taxmen in the close season gave Ushuru a valuable 2-0 cushion with the winners holding on to the lead until the final whistle for another important victory.

In the second game of the day at the same venue, Talanta kept in touch at the top with the early pacesetters when they barracked visiting Green Commandoes FC by the same margin.

A brace from Anthony Gichu who netted either side of halftime inspire his team to victory, snatching second place from Wazito who fell to their second defeat of the season when they went down 1-2 to Bidco United FC at the Thika Sub-County Stadium.

Emmanuel Onyancha and Dinken Mwema were on target for Bidco with Eugene Ambulwa’s equaliser turning out to be a mere consolation.

At the Eldoret Show Grounds, Shabana suffered their second loss in a row when they went down by a solitary goal with Joseph Oyugi producing the winner while in Kisumu, hosts Kisumu All-Stars FC edged out Kibera Black Stars FC 1-0.

The loss saw Shabana (13) slip to seventh, six points adrift the automatic promotion places in their quest to seek a return to the SPL where many of their devoted fans feel they belong.

-Material from FKF used in this report

Wednesday NSL Results

Eldoret Youth 1-0 Shabana (Eldoret Show Grounds)

Nairobi Stima 2-1 Thika United (Karuturi Grounds, 3 pm)

Bidco United 2-1 Wazito (Thika Stadium)

Administration Police 0-2 Ushuru (Camp Toyoyo)

FC Talanta 2-0 Green Commandos (Camp Toyoyo, 4.15 pm)

Kisumu All-Stars 1-0 Kibera Black Stars (Moi Stadium)

St. Joseph’s Youth 1-2 Fortune Sacco (Afraha Stadium)

Coast Stima 2-0 Migori Youth (Mbaraki Sports Club)

Modern Coast Rangers 2-0 Kangemi All-Stars (Serani Sports Grounds)

Nairobi City Stars 1-1 Kenya Police (Camp Toyoyo)

NSL Standings

1 Ushuru 8 7 1 0 15 2 13 22

2 FC Talanta 8 6 1 1 14 5 9 19

3 Wazito 8 6 0 2 10 4 6 18

4 Nairobi Stima 8 4 4 0 16 8 8 16

5 Kisumu All Stars 8 4 4 0 11 5 6 16

6 Eldoret Youth 8 4 2 2 12 7 5 14

7 Shabana 8 4 1 3 7 5 2 13

8 Bidco United 8 3 3 2 12 9 3 12

9 Adm Police 8 2 5 1 11 8 3 11

10 Coast Stima 8 2 5 1 11 9 2 11

11 Kenya Police 8 3 2 3 12 12 0 11

12 Fortune Sacco 8 2 4 2 8 9 -1 10

13 Thika United 8 2 2 4 6 10 -4 8

14 MC Rangers 8 2 1 5 6 13 -7 7

15 St Joseph Youth 8 1 3 4 6 10 -4 6

16 Nairobi City Stars 8 0 4 4 7 16 -9 4

17 Kangemi All Stars 8 1 1 6 6 15 -9 4

18 Green Commandos 8 1 1 6 5 16 -11 4

19 Kibera Black Stars 8 0 3 5 3 10 -7 3

20 Migori Youth 8 0 3 5 2 11 -9 3