Review: No respite for Wanderers as City Stars take control

Northern Wanderers’ woes in the National Super League (NSL) hit a new low after going down 6-0 to league leaders City Stars at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday.

Having finished 12th in the 2018/19 season then as  Eldoret Youth, the idea behind branding afresh under new management  in July was made clear, to fight for  a space to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

As a North Eastern conglomerate of tycoons took over, they were thought to herald a sustained promotion bid to KPL but everything seems to be heading south for the outfit at the moment.

The team is rocked at the bottom of the NSL log having failed to register a solitary victory so far. They have also shipped 25 goals in their opening six matches.

Apart from  Wanderers, there seems to be no respite for the struggling teams in the league after fourth-placed FC Talanta handed Murang’a SEAL the second heaviest defeat of the weekend, 3-0, at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday.

Hot on the heels of table-topping City stars Bidco United underlined their intent to return to the topflight by overcoming a stubborn Modern Coast Rangers 1-0 at the Thika Municipality Stadium, in their third straight scalp.

Elsewhere Shabana FC made amends to their 2-0 slump to Administration Police by thumping 14th-placed Kibera Black Stars 1-0 in the Sunday afternoon fixture played at the Gusii Stadium.

After a barren stalemate in the first half, Shabana midfield ace Peter Ogechi hit home the winner with a quarter of an hour left on the clock to push them up to seventh on the log.

Shabana head coach Gilbert Selebwa lauded his charges, saying they are keen to bag all home points to boost their promotion chances.

“The players are in high spirits and that is why they have been in fine form recently. We set out as a team to win all of our 15 home matches. We also want to win at least 10 away matches, which would translate to 80 points by the end of the season,” the former AFC Leopards Team Manager said.

The team currently enjoys a reliable squad depth; something he says will give them an edge over their competitors.

“We have an excellent team whose players are committed to the same our 80-points plan. We have no doubt we will be promoted,” he added.

Despite financial quagmire that Shabana faced in the beginning of the season, fans base have been pivotal in bailing out the team.

Chairman Jared Niverton has been continuously contributing money for the upkeep of the players and the teams’ technical bench.

The glamour boys will hope to build on their impressive victory over Kibera Black Stars when they take on Ushuru FC at Ruaraka Grounds.

2019/20 NSL round 6 Summarised Results

Fortune Sacco 0-1 Ushuru -Kianyaga Stadium

Coast Stima 1-0 Murang’a Seal -Mbaraki Sports Club

Bidco United 1-0 Modern Coast Rangers-Thika Stadium

Migori Youth 2-0 APS Bomet-Awendo Stadium

Shabana 1-0 Kibera Black Stars- Gusii Stadium

Mt Kenya United 0-0 Nairobi Stima – Camp Toyoyo

FC Talanta 3-0 Kenya Police -Camp Toyoyo

Vihiga United 3-2 St Joseph’s Youth –Mumias Complex

Vihiga Bullets 1-1 Administration Police – Bukhungu Stadium

Nairobi City Stars 6-0 Northern Wanderers – Camp Toyoyo