Ayany in a debut win as KCB sink Kisumu All Stars

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Football Club on Monday boosted their quest to return to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), beating Kisumu All Stars 2-1 in a tough National Super League (NSL) match at Camp Toyoyo grounds.

The win stretched the bankers points tally to 60, dislodging Ushuru who are on 59 points from third-place. Thus, they are just seven off league leaders Western Stima with only six matches left.

Kelvin Owino opened the scores for KCB just two minutes into the match, before Kisumu’s Bobby Kwaka netted in his own goal in the 18th minute to make it 2-0 for the bankers.

Nelson Amunga delivered the consolation for Kisumu with only nine minutes left on the clock, slotting home a free-kick from 23 yards.

This is the KCB’s first win under the tutelage of coach Elvis Ayany, who replaced sacked John Kamau as the head coach last week.

Speaking after the match, Ayany expressed optimism his charges will book a ticket back to the KPL, with the momentum gathered as the league enters the homestretch.

“All we wanted is a positive result and a good start as coach, which we got. We had a lot of chances in the first half which we well dominated, had we been clinical the margin should have been bigger,” noted the tactician.

Ayany further has underscored the need to concentrate fully in matches if his team has to keep the winning streak, pointing out the frailty exposed in the last quarter of the match.

“After scoring in the 81st minute, they (Kisumu All Stars) dominated the last 10 minutes of the game and we were just lucky to escape with a win. Sometimes luck wins you games,” he conceded.

KCB captain Bethuel Warambo emphasised importance of the debut win for Ayany, further stating the former club’s player has what it takes to lead them back to the topflight.

“Having coached us before at the capacity of assistant coach, Ayany knows us very well and has concrete information of the club because he played here too. We have confidence in him that our dream to return to KPL will come to pass,” Warambo averred.