FKFPL: Austin Odhiambo getting Gor in the groove, Gitego paying off for Ingwe but no respite for Shabana

© Gor Mahia.

FOOTBALL FKFPL: Austin Odhiambo getting Gor in the groove, Gitego paying off for Ingwe but no respite for Shabana

Joel Omotto 07:00 - 04.03.2024

Gor Mahia’s Austin Odhiambo is turning into their Mr Reliable, Arthur Gitego showed AFC Leopards fans what they have been missing but so much to worry for Shabana.

Gor Mahia finally answered their critics when they turned on the style to record a rare 4-0 victory against Posta Rangers in the FKF Premier League on Saturday.

K’Ogalo were too good for Posta Rangers who went down to 10 men just before halftime and paid the price in the second half as the champions scored three more goals to record the huge win.

It was just the second match this season in which Gor Mahia scored four goals, the first one coming on matchday three in September when they beat Nairobi City Stars 4-1.

Rare big win for Gor

The victory came on the back of K’Ogalo’s FKF Cup elimination at the hands of lower league side Denmark FC but most importantly, murmurs of discontent had started emerging among the club’s fans over their recent run of slim wins.

Johnathan McKinstry’s men had not scored more than one goal in eight straight matches prior to Saturday’s encounter and even though five of those were wins, the supporters still wanted more.

Scoring few goals has been a characteristic of Gor Mahia this season as they have found the back of the net more than once in seven of the 24 matches they have played in all competitions and it remains to be seen if the four goals against Posta Rangers were down the sending off or they have really found back their mojo.

K’Ogalo’s Mr Reliable

However, what will delight Gor Mahia supporters even more is the performance of playmaker Austin Odhiambo and the return to form of striker Benson Omala.

Omala, who scored the opening goal on Saturday, has now netted in back-to-back games to take his tally to 11 while Odhiambo scored a late brace to move to seven goals this season.

Odhiambo is turning out to be Gor Mahia’s go-to man when they need some inspiration and he is not just scoring and setting up goals, but doing it in style.

His curling effort to make it 4-0 on Saturday was another collector's item, adding onto a brilliant freekick against Tusker and a brace past FC Talanta among the beautiful goals he has netted this campaign.

Gitego paying dividends

Meanwhile, at AFC Leopards, things seem to be looking up as they remain the only unbeaten side this year following a 2-0 victory against Nzoia Sugar on Sunday.

Ingwe completed the double over Nzoia Sugar, the team who they beat to record their first win of the season in October at a time they were deep in the relegation zone, but that now looks like water under the bridge as they are placed seventh on the table.

Leopards fans are having a 60th anniversary to remember with the future looking bright especially after the signing of Rwandese striker Arthur Gitego who has now scored four goals in two straight games.

Gitego followed his hat-trick in the FKF Cup last weekend with his first league goal for Ingwe before Hassan Beja sealed the points with a late strike.

Kapaito not stopping

The other big winners of the weekend were Tusker FC who made it three straight wins to move to second on the table with 40 points, 10 behind Gor Mahia.

Erick Kapaito was the toast for Robert Matano’s men yet again as he scored both goals in their 2-1 win against Muhoroni.

Like Leopards, Tusker have also picked momentum in the second half of the season and their resurgence has coincided with Kapaito’s good spell in front of goal as the striker now has eight goals in his last 10 games.

KCB, Shabana fading fast

However, while those three are thriving, KCB and Shabana are sinking fast, having failed to stop their slide at the weekend.

KCB were forced to a goalless draw by Murang’a Seal and it is now eight games without a win for Bernard Mwalala’s men who have moved from third place in December to 10th spot, 20 points behind the league leaders.

It is the same for Shabana whose problems remain the same even after their appointment of coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo in January.

The Glamour Boys last tested victory in Pamzo’s first match on January 14 but since then, it has been four losses and one draw, a period in which they have not scored a goal.

Bandari were the latest to add onto their woes when they beat them 2-0 on Sunday to leave them second from bottom on 18 points, just two better than bottom side Nzoia Sugar.

With 11 matches remaining, Pamzo must quickly find a winning formula or Shabana will go back down after earning promotion for the first time in 17 years last season.