Kakamega Homeboyz defender decries slip in midweek contest
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 09.04.26. | 07:52
The draw kept Homeboyz in the top four, and are the only team in this prized zone to have conceded over twenty goals
Wednesday’s rescheduled Kenyan Premier League tie pitting hosts Nairobi United against Kakamega Homeboyz may have ended with spoils evenly shared, yet served something cautionary to the visiting defence who, for all of their team’s efforts upfront, seem to slumber at the most crucial times.
The draw kept Homeboyz in the top four, and are the only team in this prized zone to have conceded over twenty goals.
Centre-back Portipher Odhiambo will take the draw, as it keeps them in the discussions for the title, but is not a happy man in the way they let in goals.
‘"It’s an away match so we expected the hosts not to go down fighting. In all honesty, we had the tie to ourselves but they managed to dig themselves out from a set-piece. Those ones are difficult to defend but we should blame ourselves for conceding the foul in the first place,’’ says Homeboyz’s main man at the back.
The visitors twice led in the tie, each through junior international David Majaka.
His opener in the tie was cancelled out by former Homeboys man Michael Karamor but he ensured coach Patrick Odhiambo’s men went into the break leading as he completed his brace under 45 minutes.
United came out guns blazing in the second half and relentlessly knocked at Homeboyz’s door, the latter caving in the dying stages of the match.
A free-kick conceded, and seeing Ugandan international Mustapha Kizza stand behind it, fate seemed sealed. And he did just that, ensuring Ibrahim Wanzala in goal was sufficiently stretched to the far post yet with nothing to show for it as the ball went in for 2-2. They need to manage the game more efficiently, Odhiambo thinks.
"We did try to make away with all the three points, kept the hosts at bay for a long time but just that one moment and it was all over. We should improve on how to carry a lead to the end and not crumble when the pressure increases,’’ continues the 2021 National Super League’s most valuable player.
Wednesday’s match marked his 27th of the campaign in all competitions; a true workhorse for Odhiambo’s side, and largely responsible for the other impressive shows the Homeboyz backline has had to put up.
He even has sneaked his way into the team’s leading scorers despite being a defender. With four goals to his name and three assists, Portipher is clearly one of Homeboyz' most important players this season. He says he is not done yet even as the season heads into the homestretch.
"I think we still have a fighting chance for the title. Eight matches are a lot of games and anything can happen. The most important thing we are doing is staying close to the leading pack and we intend to go all the way in the remaining matches and see what happens,’’ he adds.
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Gor Mahia leads the 18-team table standings but with just a two-point difference from second place AFC Leopards.
Homeboyz give a distant chase nine points below in 3rd while defending champions Kenya Police close off the top four with 43 points. It’s as close as a league can get.