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Revealing which players made Pulse Sports Kenya's 2022/2023 team of the season.
After a gruelling FKF Premier League 2022/2023 season finally ended in June with Gor Mahia winning their 20th league title, it should naturally be the time for them to receive their flowers for jobs well done this season.
Unfortunately, owing to the circumstances under which the league took place, in a period when the country is still getting back on its feet as it brushed off the cobwebs from the year-long FIFA ban, there were no awards given to the players.
However, it did not stop Pulse Sports Kenya's Mark Kinyanjui from coming up with the team of the season. So, without further ado, here is the team.
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20:31 - 04.07.2023
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Goalkeeper- Gad Mathews Otieno (Gor Mahia)
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Starting between the sticks is Gor Mahia’s Gad Mathews Otieno. We gave serious consideration to Brian Bwire and Bryne Omondi, but none of them made enough appearances compared to Mathews.
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We also considered Humphrey Katasi for the slot, having kept 17 clean sheets to win him the golden glove award alongside Mathews, but there is room for just one goalkeeper, in this case, a league champion in Mathews.
The former Kisumu All Stars custodian has been an ever-present between the sticks, keeping 17 clean sheets as Gor Mahia delivered a historic 20th league title.
He conceded just 31 times, with his assured stature between the sticks injecting confidence to his defence including Sylvester Owino, who joined from Kakamega Homeboyz in the mid-season transfer window and Geoffrey “Simiti” Ochieng.
Right back-Daniel Sakari (Tusker)
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Daniel Sakari has made excellent strides to improve his overall game this season. The former Kakamega Homeboyz and Kariobangi Sharks right back has been a revelation not just at right back, but also at left back, given his relative ambidextrous ability. His ability to also invert has given both Tusker and Harambee Stars alot of tactical flexibility.
He featured in that position when Isaack Kipyegon and Boniface Kajos Odhiambo were injured in February and before the club signed Levin Odhiambo from Mathare United. In fairness, he famously played there during the 2021 CAF Confederation Cup against CS Sfaxien.
His long throw trait has also helped the Robert Matano-coached side on numerous occasions, given their tendency to play long. By a long shot, he has been the league’s best right back.
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05:31 - 30.06.2023
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06:00 - 14.06.2023
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Centre back- Maurice Ochieng (KCB)
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Maurice Ojwang has been a constant presence in the KCB side this season as they finish the league with the best defensive record.
The tough-tackling centre back has been a revelation in the air despite not being particularly the tallest for his position.
His form was so impressive this season , it even earned him a call to the provisional Harambee Stars squad for the friendly in Iran last March after four years out.
Special mention goes to Gor Mahia’s Geoffrey Ochieng’,whose solidity at the heart of the Gor Mahia defence has earned him the nickname Simiti (cement).
Centre Back- Dennis Ng’ang’a (Gor Mahia)
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Dennis Ng’ang’a goes down as our defender of the season. The left-footed defender is very versatile, which has allowed head coach Johnathan McKinstry to deploy him both at center back and left back.
The defender can also play as a midfielder, the position where he actually started his career. On top of being excellent defensively, he has also been a deadly set-piece taker for Gor Mahia both from corner kick and free kick situations.
Not to mention his ball-playing ability. His vision, passing accuracy has been a joy to watch, which has made him win the hearts of many K’ogalo supporters.
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Left back- Levin Odhiambo (Tusker)
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Levin Lefty Odhiambo has had an incredible individual season both for Mathare United and Tusker. Having been released by Wazito last season after suffering an injury against Bidco United, he has gone on to prove himself for both clubs.
Odhiambo’s crossing has been a joy to watch, both from open play and set piece situations. There have been questions about his positioning defensively, but he contributes directly to attacking output with his excellent range of crossing both low and float.
This helped him contribute numerous assists and one can only wonder if Mathare United would have survived relegation had he not left to join Tusker mid-season.
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06:00 - 23.05.2023
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Central midfielder- Humphrey Mieno (Tusker)
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“The captain of Tusker is very, very good,” former Arsenal and Real Madrid striker Emmanuel Adebayor said when he watched a game between Tusker and FC Talanta in February when he briefly visited Kenya.
That should be enough to tell you the calibre of talent that is Humprey Mieno, who has dominated the Kenyan Premier League for a decade with his audacious touch which epitomizes his technical ability, composure and ability to be three or four steps ahead of the game. Not forgetting his ability to strike a ball excellently from distance.
Mieno has transitioned into a regista role from a more advanced central position, where he has used his attributes to dictate the tempo of how Tusker plays.
If you love Humphrey Mieno, you love Kenyan football. He has also led by example, and young Tusker midfielders like David Odoyo and Rodgers Ouma should borrow a leaf from the veteran.
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20:00 - 15.04.2023
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Left Attacking midfielder) - Tyson Otieno (Kariobangi Sharks)
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Before we go on, we are fully aware Tyson Otieno is an attacking midfielder, but we had to find room for him in this team. You will see why we have put him on the flanks later.
Without doubt, the recently concluded season has been the best individual season for Tyson Otieno in the top flight, nearly six years since making his debut.
His transformation since signing for Sharks before the season began has been seen there for all to see as his game has shot to a new and high level.
He has become more seasoned in possession, no longer giving the ball away as regularly as he used to despite being a proactive dribbler and never sacrificing his defensive capabilities. He has also been effective at directly contributing to Sharks’ goals, scoring nine times and also registering numerous assists.
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13:00 - 02.07.2023
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Right Winger: Hassan Abdallah- Bandari
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Hassan Abdallah’s consistent brilliant performances for Bandari despite an underwhelming season for a club of their resources has been one of the main talking points amongst fans and neutrals alike.
For the record, Abdallah is the only true winger who makes this list. Now you understand why we put Tyson as left winger, because there was no particularly stand out winger apart from the Bandari winger from a consistency point of view.
His performances had unsurprisingly earned him the nickname “starboy” owing to his ability to single-handedly carry the club on his back.
He managed to find the back of the net 13 times in the concluded season and was a thorn in the flesh of full backs and did well in bailing the defence out whenever they ran into trouble.
Central Attacking midfielder- Joseph Mwangi (Nzoia Sugar)
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The best scoring midfielder in the concluded season as the 26-year old managed to score 14 goals and recorded seven assists.
He was also the highest scoring player at Nzoia who have had their best season since returning to the top flight in 2016.
His creativity has turned into contributing to goals, which won him his maiden Harambee Stars call up in March and his second in June.
Striker-Elvis Rupia (Kenya Police)
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Elvis Rupia made history by breaking Maurice Ochieng Sonyi’s record of scoring 26 goals in a single FKFPL season, as he finished the season scoring 27 goals.
In so doing, he ended the long wait for the ‘Golden Boot’ after coming close in 2018 and 2021 seasons when he finished second.
Police have reaped solid returns for investing in Rupia who joined the club in February 2022 from AFC Leopards.
Striker- Benson Omala-Gor Mahia
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Completing our list is Benson Omala. The Gor Mahia forward looked like he was running away with the golden boot award at some point, but a run of six games without finding the back of the net until his equalizer against City Stars in their last game of the season allowed Rupia to catch up with him and beat him to the award.
Omala can take consolation in the fact that he at least equalled Sonyi’s record and also won the title with K’ogalo. However, he still has to work on his all-roundedness in order to get to the next level.
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments section below. (We commend all players for a job well done this season).
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20:00 - 29.06.2023
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