Ulinzi new Premier League champions

 

Ulinzi Stars with their trophy after beating Karuturi Sports 2-0 at Afraha stadium on November 14, 2010. PHOTO/JOSEPH KIHERI
 Ulinzi new Premier League champions

Disappointed Gor Mahia players after their premier league match against Nairobi City Stars at City Stadium on November 14, 2010. Photo/CHRIS OMOLLO

Ulinzi's Mohamed Hussein is carried shoulder high by fans after his team emerged the KPL 2010 champions. Photo/JOSEPH KIHERI 

Ulinzi players celebrate shortly beating Karuturi Sports 2-0 at Afraha Stadium on November 14,2010. Photo/JOSEPH KIHERI 

 

Lawrence Owino (left) of Ulinzi Stars battles David Owino of Karuturi Sports in the premiership tie at City Stadium on November 14, 2010. Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN

How Ulinzi clinched victory over Karaturi

By JAMES WAINDI

Ulinzi Stars are the 2010 Kenya Premier League (KPL) champions.

Defender Mohammed Hussein completed Geoffrey Kokoyo's powerful header and an own-goal by Geoffery Njuguna earned the soldiers a deserved 2-0 win over arch rivals Karuturi Sports at Afraha Stadium and guarantee them the title.

They also maintained their superiority over Karuturi who have never beaten them since 2008.

The soldiers entered the final match of the season carrying a slim single point advantage over second placed Gor Mahia, but resisted the pressure to bag the needed three points and secure their second league title.

With Gor playing Nairobi City Stars at City Stadium at the same time, Ulinzi’s technical bench was seen monitoring the proceedings in Nairobi on phone and they exploded into celebrations after they learned that Gor’s match had ended in a barren draw and Ulinzi were leading 2-0 with four minutes to go.

"We deserve this title, we have won it with our sweat and it is a good reward after working so hard the entire season. Our target in the last two matches was a win and a draw and after tying 1-1 with Red Berets last weekend, we had no option but to win today’s match. Karuturi gave us a run for our money, but we were ready for such resistance and that is what champions are made of," said Ulinzi coach Benjamin Nyangweso.

Ulinzi Stars captain Stephen Ochola celebrating after his team was crowned 2010 KPL Champions, [Right] outgoing KPL Chairman Gabriel Otiende looks on [Picture by Boniface Thuku/Standard]

Officer in charge of the team Joe Birgen said the team would certainly feature at next year’s Africa Champions League and promised to recruit top players.

The last time Ulinzi won the league in 2005 they failed to feature at the continental competition because of financial constraints and were banned for three years for not honouring the matches.

Karuturi coach Sammy Okoth started with first choice custodian Noah Ayuko and the team’s top scorer on the bench, but the flower men asked

the early questions in the match and Ulinzi custodian Francis Ochieng had to use his legs to stop Jacob Omondi’s strike just three minutes

into the match.

Ulinzi earned a corner in the sixth minute on the other end and Kokoyo sent in a powerful header from Anthony Nderitu’s corner and Hussein redirected it into the net to break the deadlock and send the massive crowd at Afraha Stadium into celebrations.

Kokoyo was at hand to clear Alfred Chole's strike off the line four minutes later with custodian Ochieng in no one’s land.

In the 31st minute, Nderitu beat two defenders to remain with goalkeeper Mike Wanyika, but the custodian thwarted him in a one-on-one situation.

In the second half, Okoth brought in top scorer Allan Otindo instead of Chole, but the change did not make any difference.

It was Ulinzi super sub Stephen Waruru who was playing his first match since completing his six months suspension that changed the match, earning a free kick just outside the box after being brought down by Andrew Mwabi in the 63rd minute.

Nderitu swang in a curling free kick that caused mayhem in Karuturi's box as substitute Njuguna headed powerfully into his own net for the second goal.

Ochola could have made it 3-0 but could not convert Waruru’s cross from close range.

David Owino could have scored Karuturi’s consolation in the 90th minute, but missed target from close range with an empty goal at his mercy.

Earned corner in sixth minute

Had to win