Swansong for Kagere as Juma carts the Golden Boot

The humble, soft spoken and likeable Meddie Kegere engaged the highest gear on final day of action but his Saturday repertoire could not stop Masoud Juma from clinching the coveted individual accolade – the 2017 Kenyan Premier League Golden Boot.

With all games played concurrently, Kagere struck a first half double to take his league season goal tally to  14, three short of Juma’s .

But Juma, whose recent remarkable form has sometimes bordered on unplayable, stretched his goals haul to 18 when he fired Kariobangi Sharks’ equaliser against Nakumatt FC late on, to prove to all in sundry that he was the most potent weapon on our shores this term. Rightfully so, he deserves it, but as to whether he should walk straight into the national starting eleven, remains a hot topic for debate.

Behind the two deadly attackers is Kagere’s compatriot and teammate Jacques Tuyisenge who is level on 13 with veteran striker Kepha Aswani of Nakumatt.

Tuyisenge, by all standards, has settled in Kenya, aided by his good grasp of the Kiswahili language. In his own locker, he is deadly in the face of goal but for reasons perhaps best known to himself, the football gods have contrived to cheat him of the glory he so much seeks since he landed at the camp of the famous Gor. Well, he is the team’s vice-skipper and has now won the league title to boot, but at personal level, the individual glory still evades him.

Stephen Waruru of Ulinzi Stars and Sofapaka FC’s Umaru Kasumba are close behind on 11 apiece with Mathare United’s Chrispin Oduor (10) completing the list for those who hit double figures for the season.

Kagere will consider himself unlucky having missed the individual gong that would have capped a season for which his goals have been invaluable for Gor during their title procession.

Significantly, no other player has won more points than the Rwandan forward who has scored 9 winning goals. It means he has helped Gor win at least 18 points; he also knows how to set them up too.

“I should have had more(goals) but the coach who went (Jose Marcelo Ferreira) didn’t believe in me. I sat on the bench but kept working hard and whenever he gave me the chance I would repay him.

“He gained some trust in me and started giving me more games but it was too late. Kerr (Dylan) knew my talent and played me more often too. I’m not too happy because I’m not number one but I’m still thankful for this,” Kagere told Citizen Digital in Kisumu after his double act secured Gor a hard fought 2-2 draw with Sony Sugar on their coronation day.Waruru was the race front-runner having hit 10 quick goals in the first half of the season before a spectacular drought saw him overtaken by the rest.

Juma (21), Kagere (16), Kasumba (17), Lawrence Juma (16) of Nzoia Sugar and Nicholas Kipkirui (16) of Zoo Kericho FC are the only players to have registered 15 and over in terms of goals and assists combined.

Top Scorers chart(league goals)

Masoud Juma -18, Kariobangi Sharks

Meddie Kagere-14,Gor Mahia

Jcques Tuyisenge-13, Gor Mahia

Kepha Aswani-13,Nakumatt

Umaru Ksumba-11, Sofapaka

Stephen Waruru-11,Ulinzi Stars

Oduor Chrispine-10,Matahre United

Nicholas Kipkirui-9, Zoo Kericho