Kimanzi Refuses To Give Up On Title Fight

By Omondi Onyatta

Tusker FC tactician Francis Kimanzi is still optimistic that his charges can achieve a treble this season despite going down 2-1 to Ulinzi Stars in a midweek Kenya Premier League (KPL) encounter at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru today.

Goals by Kevin Amwayi and Stephen Ocholla put a huge dent on Tusker’s title hopes and left them in third place with 42 points; six points behind leaders Gor Mahia. The brewers won the Top 8 tournament earlier this season while they are still in the hunt for the GoTV Shield Cup  and they face holders AFC Leopards this coming weekend.

Kimanzi admitted that his team is now in an awkward position but exuded hope that other title challengers would falter along the way. “There are still five more matches to go and we will fight until the end. This match was difficult because Ulinzi Stars played well defensively and attacked well,” the former Sofapaka and Mathare United coach stated. 

Happy times: Tusker lifting the KPL Title in 2012 (Image credit: m.goal.com)

The soldiers were blazing hot at the start of the match as Amwayi gave them the lead at the half hour mark after heading in a cross by Evans Amuoka. However, Tusker equalized in the 47^th minute through Ismail Dunga after a lovely one-two move with Kevin Kimani. 

The goal seemed to have rejuvenated them as they set out to find the killer goal that would put their title charge back on track.

A quick counterattack by Ulinzi put paid to these ambitions as skipper Ocholla beat Samuel Odhiambo in goal to claim a vital winner. The victory hauled the soldiers to the fifth position with 38 points; 10 shy of Gor Mahia.