Defending champions Tusker returned to their winning ways in the FKF Premier League with a narrow 1-0 win of hosts Nzoia Sugar at Sudi Stadium in Bungoma yesterday.

The goal that separated the teams in the highly physical contest came through Deogratius Ojok who cashed in on sloppy defending in the 24th minute to put the ball in the back of the net.

Nzoia will strongly feel that they deserved something from the match after they combed Tusker defence in the large part of the second half only to miscue chance after another.

“There are things to improve and we have to learn to better understand what the game demands at all times,” said Tusker coach Robert Matano after the game.

“We have to generate more chances. It was difficult to attack such a tight defence like Nzoia’s, but we somehow managed to do it which resulted in the lone striker. We have to work extremely hard in the remaining matches because we could find ourselves in similar scenarios many times,”

“What I liked most was the attitude of the players in a dreary hunting ground. Of course, there are things which we ought to improve on in the quest to successfully defend the title?

In fact, there are many moving forward. Remember, we have a reputation to protect as the defending champions which is why we should strive to give our all in each and every match,” offered Matano.

For Tusker, the success was a huge relief considering that the last time they savoured victory was on November 3 when they stopped Kenya Police 2-1.

In another match in Kasarani, youngster Daniel Musamali saved AFC Leopards from the jaws of defeat in a 1-1 draw with new boys FC Talanta.

Apparently, the giant-killing Talanta refused to be overawed by big names, Edwin Lavatsa equalising in the 46th minute ahead with a clinically executed strike from about twenty metres out.

Leopards, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Vihiga Bullets in an Ingo Derby the previous week in Kakamega, started strongly with Musamali evading his markers in the 10th minute to make a simple tap-in.

Still in Kasarani, Wazito coach Francis Kimanzi showed scant respect for his former employers Mathare United when he led the Money Bags in a resounding 4-1 victory over the Slum Boys.

Elsewhere, another newly-promoted side Kenya Police was in an uncompromising mood, beating Bidco United 3-0.