Its like Kimanzi never left table topping Mathare

Francis Kimanzi was in charge of Mathare United the last time anyone remembers the Slum Boys at the top of the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) table and on his return, it looks like he never left.

Three games into the 2016 season, Kimanzi who has a point to prove after his almost two year reign at Tusker FC yielded no trophy, is enjoying a familiar view from the summit with the club he led to the 2008 crown that remains their only triumph.

After stints with Sofapaka, Harambee Stars and Tusker the respected tactician returned to his ‘default settings’ and has taken little time to bed in.

There was something so ‘Kimanzi-esque’ in Mathare’s 5-2 demolition of his former employers, Batoto ba Mungu, in Machakos on Sunday and although its early to install them as title-challengers, his team looks set to have a huge say in the destination of the crown since they are yet to taste defeat.

Short-passing, emphatic finishing, tactical astuteness and bossing possession- the Mathare way of old was back as the Slum Boys took charge of the standings from Bandari on seven points in the highlight clash of the weekend at Kenyatta Stadium with coach and club looking the perfect glove fit thus far.

Roy Samba opened the scoring in the fifth minute, before international Erick Johanna doubled the tally on 35 and before Sofapaka could breath, Obadiah Ndege notched his first for a 3-0 half-time advantage.

Brian Nyakan a minute into the restart and Herritier Luvualu seven minutes later brought Sofapaka back but a Noah Abich re-taken penalty and Ndege’s brace sealed the rout.

With champions Gor Mahia and GOtv Shield champions, Bandari who had been installed as pre-season favourites away on continental duty, Mathare added their names to the sides that are ready to challenge for the honours as Sofapaka who begun the 2016 campaign in impressive fashion slumped down to 11th.

“Despite the win, I feel we still have a lot to do as a team; we have a lot to learn. I think the players sometimes concentrate a lot on what not to do.

“Conceding two goals in a span of five minutes is a worrying state that we must work on heading into the next game,” the bemused Kimanzi told supersport.com after the win.

Tusker recover

With some reports circulating Paul Nkata is allegedly in trouble at Tusker, the side Kimanzi was forced to ‘step-aside’ in October after a run of poor results, the Brewers moved to second after recovering from last crushing week’s defeat to Ulinzi Stars to edge Nairobi City Stars 2-1 for their second away win of the season.

A defender Eugene Asike’s own goal ten minutes into the clash looked to set up another woeful afternoon but 2014 Player of the Year, Ekaliani Ndolo, leveled nine minutes later before Humphrey Mieno uncorked a long range shot in the 69th for the winner to push their hosts to the foot of the table on Saturday.

Tusker are a point adrift of the leaders with Muhoroni Youth who pile further misery on Thika United with a 2-1 away defeat in a match where keeper Hamza Muyonge played a clanger for the second goal joining them on six but an inferior difference pushing them third.

Wycliffe Ochomo, the forward who is under investigation for unsporting behaviour; notched the double after opening the scoring with a smart turn and shot in the third minute. Posta Rangers (five) who were held 1-1 by Western Stima in Machakos round the top four.

Dennis Okangi’s sixth minute strike gave Chemelil Sugar a first victory of the season as Kakamega Homeboyz impressive return to the SportPesa Premier League on opening day continues to recede after a second successive loss.

Strikers Kelphas Mutuu and Andrew Kulecho spurned a series of opportunities for Homeboyz who were left ruing lack of potency before goal, the same reason that made their SPL stay short-lived in 2013.

Also recording a first win on Saturday were Ushuru FC who silenced Sony Sugar 1-0 amid a coaching controversy at the sugar millers after coach Leonard Odipo resigned before rescinding his decision hours later when management convened an emergency meeting to resolve his grievances.

Victory pushed the taxmen up to 10th as Sony were left a place off the bottom, ahead of basement side City Stars on goal difference.

STANDINGS

P          W        D         L          F          A         GD      PTS

1 Mathare United  3          2          1          0          7          3          4          7

2 Tusker                    3          2          0          1          4          4          0          6

3 Muhoroni             3          2          0          1          3          3          0          6

4 Posta                      3          1          2          0          4          2          2          5

5 Bandari                  2          1          1          0          4          2          2          4

6 Ulinzi Stars            2          1          1          0          2          0          2          4

7 W Stima                 3          1          1          1          4          3          1          4

8 Leopards               2          1          1          0          3          2          1          4

9 Chemelil                3          1          1          1          1          1          0          4

10 Ushuru                3          1          1          1          3          4          -1        4

11 Sofapaka                        3          1          0          2          5          7          -2        3

12 Homeboyz         3          1          0          2          2          4          -2        3

13 Gor Mahia          2          0          2          0          1          1          0          2

14 Thika                    3          0          1          2          3          5          -2        1

15 Sony                     3          0          1          2          1          3          -2        1

16 City Stars                        3          0          1          2          3          6          -3        1