Mara Sugar, Naivas still enjoy NSL lead despite weekend loses

Mara Sugar FC and Naivas FC are still enjoying the lead in the National Super League despite surprise losses at the weekend during Round 6 of action.

The duo are tied on 13 points but the Sugar Millers have a better goal difference of +2 over Naivas. Incidentally, the two sides lost by similar score margins away against Mathare United and Gusii FC respectively at Camp Toyoyo and Awendo Stadium.

Mathare United inflicted Mara Sugar’s first loss of the campaign with a 2-0 win to move to fourth place with 10 points in the bag with a match in hand. Pascal Ogweno and Tony Odhiambo were the goal-scorers in the exciting duel that now sees the slum-boys back in contention. In the other result;hosts Gusii also hushed visiting Naivas with a 2-0 win courtesy of Joshua Ratemo in the 73rd minute and Dennis Mabeya in the 92nd minute. The win means Gusii are ninth with a similar number of games played.

In another match,Kisumu All-Stars traveled to Machakos (Kenyatta Stadium) and managed a 1-1 tie with home team Mully Children’s Family FC and are now in third place with 11 points after a powerful start to the campaign. Charles Bruno’s charges have three wins in six matches and look a far better deal. The Lakeside team has lost only once in the same phase but have a goal difference of +4 presently.

Otenga will be looking at making a comeback to the Premiership after two seasons in the cold.MCF have lost thrice and drawn thrice but currently sit at the base of the 20 team table with three points.

Meanwhile,there were key but surprising wins for traditional strugglers Silibwet Leons and SS Assad FC at the weekend while newcomers Luanda Villa, Nairobi United and Rainbow all tied in their matches.

Assad beat Mulembe United 2-1 at Ukunda with goals from Hemed Mwatsingwa in the 13th minute and Alex Mwalimu in the 16th minute. The win pushes the coastal side to fifth on the log with 10 points while Mulembe is in 19th place. As for Leons,they beat Dimba Patriots 2-1 but are stuck at 16th place with five points off their solitary win thus far in the campaign.

League Newbies Luanda Villa who started the season well drew in their fifth consecutive game (1-1) at home to Kajiado FC and are now 10th placed with eight points. Elsewhere,Nairobi United also forced last season’s Playoffs losers Migori Youth to a 1-1 draw at Awendo Green Stadium with Rainbow FC also forcing Kibera Black Stars to a 1-1 result at Ligi Ndogo Grounds Saturday.

Elsewhere, it was a mixed results for contenders at the weekend in the second round of the 2023/24 Women Premier League Championship.
Defending Champions Vihiga Queens were forced to a 1-1 draw by a disciplined Kenya Police Bullets FC side at Bukhungu Grounds.

The first half seemed drab and cagey as both sides did not really do much with the opportunities presented. However, it all came to life in the second stanza with Queens drawing first blood courtesy of a 50th minute finish via Tumaini Waliaula after the striker nicely beat her markers to score from close range. After some good fight back,six minutes later the law enforcers came to the party, restoring parity in the 56th minute with a neat Mercy Njeri equalizer.

In Nakuru City,hosts Nakuru City Queens suffered an embarrassing 5-0 drubbing at the hands of league heavyweights Ulinzi Starlets in a match played at the ASK Grounds. Ten-woman Ulinzi were in control despite being a player for less than an hour.

Veteran Neddy Atieno had a brace in the 47th and 51st minutes and with Nato Lucy also weighing in with a pair in the 57th and 76th minutes before Rita Ojwang completed the rout in the last minute of regular time. City Queens simply had no response and failed to muster any meaningful threat at the opponents goal in what was a disappointing outing at their own backyard.

Meanwhile Zetech Sparks thumped visiting Bunyore Starlets 4-0 at Stima Grounds. Hattrick heroine Arusi Nabwire had a game to remember, scoring her goals in the 38th,73rd and 88th minutes with Rebecca Kwomba scoring the other in the 46th minute. Sparks were in a foul mood and were shining bright in the whole match in what was a masterful display of dominance and hunger.

The Starlets on the hand struggled to cope and were mighty lucky not to completely go under in the contest.
Elsewhere, Soccer Assassins from Nairobi stunned Trans Nzoia Falcons 5-0 away in a one sided match played at Ndura Grounds-Kitale. Goals by Assassins were courtesy of a Valerie Nekesa four strike (5th min,77th min,80th min and 92nd minute)The other goal for the visiting side came against the run of play courtesy of a Jane Hata 53rd minute goal.

Out-of-shape Falcons were completely blown away by the fast and direct play of the opponents of the day.

In other results; Kibera Soccer saw off Wadadia 2-1 at Mumias Complex with Mary Ambila and Joyce Okuku canceling out Laura Atsabina’s 18th-minute effort. In another contest, Gaspo Women beat Bungoma Queens by a slim 1-0 win courtesy of Emily Okute in the 47th minute of play.