Nakumatt takes charge of NSL as Nzoia, Agro draw

Nakumatt FC took charge of the National Super League (NSL) standings after a 2-1 win against promotion rivals Zoo Kericho as other top challengers; Nzoia United and Agro Chemicals drew in the weekend round of fixtures.

The retailers are on top on 36 points, one ahead of Nzoia who have a game in hand with Zoo and Agro sealing the top three on 32 and 31 in what remains a tight competition to decide the top two teams who will feature in the Kenyan Premier League next season.

In the clash of the weekend, Nakumatt went ahead in the hotbed of Kericho Green Stadium in front of passionate home supporters when Johnson Shitote Ligare put through to his own net in the 17th minute.

Zoo’s top scorer, Mike Modoya, pulled his side level three minutes after the break but a late winner from Cornelius Juma sealed maximum points for Coach Rishadi Shedu’s side that has played 16 games.

“It was a very competitive game considering the form of Zoo, however what provided the difference was our experience in converting and creating chances.

“There were controversial decisions during the match that affected both teams,” Nakumatt’s Team Manager, Kevin Obwanda, told Citizen Digital.

Sylvester Ochichi’s first half goal was not enough to secure a win for Nzoia as David Amimo’s penalty at the half hour mark pegged them back to force the share of spoils with Kisumu’s Palos FC.

Bernard Mwalala’s Nzoia dropped to second with the sugar belt side remaining the only unbeaten side in the NSL this season after Zoo’s record was ended on Saturday.

Agro were checked by battling Wazito FC 1-1 as they missed the chance to close the gap at the top.

Eric Okoth hit the target in the 64th for former top-flight side Kenya Commercial Bank as they ran out 1-0 winners over troubled Ligi Ndogo at Camp Toyoyo Grounds in a result that lifted them to seventh on 24 from 16 games.

They will face Shabana FC in their next fixture this weekend as they try to maintain the winning run in their bid to crawl back the 12 point deficit with the leaders.

The Gusii based side recorded their third successive draw in a barren stalemate with Kariobangi Sharks at their adopted home ground Awendo Greens Stadium last weekend to leave them bottom with three having played to a 1-1 draw with Modern Coast Rangers followed by a 2-2 tie with Ligi Ndogo.

“The reinforcements we made to our squad have started working. The team is improving each and every day and I think we are heading the right direction. Expect to see more victories in near future,” Shabana’s Team Manager, Andrew Kanuli, affirmed.

Edward Manoah’s Vihiga United saw their good run screech to a halt when they suffered a 2-0 reverse away to Bidco United at Thika Municipal while Mombasa’s Modern Coast Rangers handed relegation threatened Talanta FC a 3-1 hiding in Ruaraka.

Vihiga who were challenging for promotion at the start of the season remain rooted in sixth (28) while Modern put the distance between them and the bottom two after scaling up to 16th (14), seven adrift of Ligi Ndogo who occupy the last relegation place.

Elsewhere, St. Joseph FC short circuited Nairobi Stima in a 1-0 at Afraha Stadium while Police and Moyas played out a 1-1 draw as former top flight sides; Oserian FC and relegated Nakuru all Stars repeated the same score.

STANDINGS

P W L D GF GA GD PTS

1 Nakumatt                16113228101836

2 Nzoia United           1510502791835

3 Zoo Kericho            159512291332

4 Agrochemicals       1694325121331

5 Kariobangi Sharks 1685324141029

6 Vihiga United          1677224101428

7 KCB                            167361619-324

8 Bidco United           166551512323

9 Palos FC                 155731612422

10 Oserian                 165651413121

11 Police FC               166372426-221

12 Wazito FC             166281519-420

13 Nairobi Stima        155461415-119

14 Nakuru AllStars    164481422-816

15 Moyas FC               163671525-1015

16 MC Rangers          163581119-814

17 St Joseph FC         152671124-1312

18 FC Talanta             161691223-119

19 Ligi Ndogo            160791330-177

20 Shabana               11038522-173