Gritty KCB overcome City Stars, boost promotion chances

Kenya Commercial Bank boosted their quest to earn promotion to the Kenyan Premier League win a slender 1-0 win over Nairobi City Stars in a National Super League match at Hope Centre grounds on Saturday.

Simon Munala made a magnificent run from the midfield to fire in for the bankers 20 minutes after the break to seal all the important points.

The bankers’ win hauled their points tally to 66 , four shy of Western Stima who tops the log with four rounds of matches left.

KCB will have goalie Adisa Omar to thank after he denied Stars’ striker Abrahaman Mango a clear chance from a close range, parrying the latter’s strong header off the bar four minutes before the break.

The bankers also had a strong penalty appeal denied just before half-time when left winger Martin Nderitu was brought down in the 12-yard box but the referee waved pay on.

“Nairobi City Stars made us be relegated in 2015 but today we thank God we have taken the maximum points against them,” KCB head coach Elvis Ayany told Citizen Digital after the match.

“We are now in a good position to return to the league but the pressure is very high. I’m now focusing to the next match against Green Commandos.”

Left back Dennis Ng’ang’a who captained the bankers in the narrow win was also delighted with the victory. “It’s very possible (to earn promotion) and there are very high chances ,”he said.

Elsewhere, Nairobi Stima and Nakuru All Stars shared the spoils after battling to a barren draw while St Joseph and Modern Coast also shred for a point each in a 1-1 stalemate

Summarised Results

Nairobi Stima vs Nakuru All Stars 0 – 0     Karuturi Grounds

Nairobi City Stars vs KCB               0 – 1        Hope Center

Bidco United vs FC Talanta           2 – 0        Thika Stadium

Green Commandoes vs Western Stima 0 – 2        Bukhungu Stadium

Coast Stima vs Administration Police       2 – 2        Serani Sports Ground

Kangemi All Stars v Migori Youth               2 – 0        Camp Toyoy

Kenya Police vs Kisumu All Stars                4 – 2        Karuturi Grounds

Kibera Black Stars vs Ushuru       1 – 1        Hope Center

St Joseph Youth vs Modern Coast Rangers           1 – 1        Afraha Stadium

Green Commandoes vs Kangemi All Stars             2 – 0        Bukhungu Stadium