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Masika netted his ninth goal contribution of the season as Mathare United returned to winning ways against Ulinzi Stars following their 3-1 loss to AFC Leopards in midweek.
Mathare United's faith in Musa Masika is continuing to yield returns, with the midfielder once again proving decisive in their narrow 1-0 win over Ulinzi Stars at Dandora Stadium.
The former Gor Mahia man, whose move to Mathare during the mid-season window was met with little fanfare, has since turned into one of the most impactful acquisitions of the campaign — a reality that now raises questions about his former club's decision to let him go.
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18:12 - 17.05.2025
Harambee Stars Striker Jonah Ayunga on Target as St Mirren Push Celtic to the Brink on Trophy Day
Ayunga made a big impact at Celtic Park with a brilliant strike as St Mirren delivered a spirited performance throughout.
Masika, who joined Mathare during the mid-season transfer window, was a relatively quiet acquisition — but one that is quickly turning into one of the shrewdest bits of business in the league this season.
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His 73rd-minute winner against Ulinzi marked his sixth goal of the campaign, with five of those coming in just eight appearances for Mathare. He’s also chipped in with four assists, directly influencing nearly every match he’s featured in.
While most of his appearances under coach John Kamau have come off the bench, this time he was trusted with a place in the starting XI — and he delivered.
The midfielder's strike was the highlight of an otherwise tense and cagey affair. After a tactical chess match for much of the game, Masika latched onto a well-timed pass from Brian Ouru and rifled home a volley past a fully-stretched Ricks Omondi.
Spotting space to the goalkeeper’s right, Masika needed no second invitation and buried the chance from the edge of the box.
This goal not only snapped Mathare's three-match winless run but also pushed their season tally to ten victories, all but sealing their top-flight status for another year.
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11:59 - 17.05.2025
Faith Cherotich Reveals Tactical Flaw She Must Fix Urgently Despite Flooring Winfred Yavi In Doha
Faith Cherotich was unsatisfied with one element of her running in Doha after she obliterated Winfred Yavi in the final 30 meters of their 3000 meter-steeplechase showdown on Sunday.
Musa Masika Impacting Games As a Starter And Impacter
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For Masika, each goal further distances him from the bit-part role he played at Gor Mahia and cements his growing reputation as a match-winner.
The first half, however, gave little indication of the drama to come. Both sides were slow out of the blocks, with Mathare enjoying more of the ball but struggling to break through Ulinzi’s disciplined defensive structure.
Ulinzi, for their part, threatened on the counter through Bonface Muchiri and Yakeen Mutheli, with Oscar Wamalwa providing an aerial threat that was well-handled by Mathare's backline. Joseph Onyango's link-up play in midfield gave Ulinzi some attacking fluidity, though it yielded little in the way of clear chances.
How Mathare Beat Ulinzi
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Coach Kamau’s decision to start Masika and fellow impact player Paul Kinyanjui added a layer of unpredictability to Mathare’s attack.
Their movement and direct running began to unsettle Ulinzi late in the first half, aided by overlapping efforts from John Nyawir and Sammy Imbuye, although goalkeeper Ricks Omondi remained largely untested until the second period.
The second half brought a marginal uptick in tempo as both teams sought maximum points. Tactical shifts and substitutions injected urgency into the proceedings, but clear-cut chances remained at a premium until Masika's moment of brilliance broke the deadlock.
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15:30 - 16.05.2025
Mashemeji Derby, Kip Keino Classic Thrown Into Limbo as Tartan Track Laying at Nyayo Stadium Hits Major Snag
Nyayo Stadium had been closed yet again for the instalation of a new tartan track ahead of the Kip Keino Classic and the 97th Mashemeji Derby.
For Ulinzi Stars, the defeat compounds a worrying run of form that has now stretched to four games without a win. The Soldiers remain in the relegation conversation, a position that stands in contrast to Mathare’s upward trajectory since Masika’s arrival.
In hindsight, Gor Mahia’s decision to part ways with Masika is beginning to look like a misjudgment.
While he struggled for minutes at K’Ogalo, his current form at Mathare suggests he simply needed the right environment to flourish.
With six goals in just a few months and a growing influence in big moments, Masika is not just reviving his career — he’s making a clear statement about what Gor Mahia may have lost.
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