KCB bag fifth win of the season after thumping Ulinzi at Kasarani

KCB have returned to their winning ways after crashing Ulinzi Stars 2-0 in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) match played on Sunday at Kasarani Annex.

The Bankers were seeking to find their winning mojo after playing Bandari to a barren draw in a midweek fixture while the Soldiers were out to arrest their three-game winless streak.

KCB assistant coach Godfrey Oduor hailed the starting team for working their socks off to deliver the three points.

"We made six changes to the squad that played in Mombasa on Thursday as majority of the players had not recovered from the fatigue. They played according to the plan and it is more satisfying to get the three points," he said.

The two teams appeared to be sizing each other for the better part of the opening minutes as there was no meaningful move made by either side. 

Ulinzi, in their trademark style of play tried to whip long balls in the area aimed at finding the towering Oscar Wamalwa but the duo of Nashon Alembi and Robinson Kamura were equal to the task. 

The physical contest between the two centre backs and the forward was rife from the onset but despite the Ulinzi man standing inches taller than the duo, he rarely won aerial challenges. 

KCB who unusually sat deep would take the lead in the 20th minute when David Simiyu capitalized on a defensive mix up to square the ball to the unmarked Michael Oduor who fired past a fully stretching James Saruni. 

Before the goal, Simiyu had twice bullied Bonaventure Muchika thanks to his biceps but the youthful Kevin Ouma came to the rescue of his centre back pair. 

Masita Masuta broke the hearts of his teammates who were up celebrating what would have been the equalizer in the 39th minute after he casually tapped the ball wide with an empty net staring at him. 

Masuta who had been isolated from the far corner had been picked by a low drive from Clinton Omondi but the former Nzoia Sugarman could not direct the ball into the net. 

Masuta paid for the miss as he was hauled off before restart for Omar Boraafya and so was the colurless Ibrahim Shambi who paved way for John Kago. 

Daniel Waweru threatened to draw the visitors level two minutes into the second half after his hard drilled freekick stung Gabriel Andika's palms in what would be Ulinzi's first shot on target. 

The two changes coach Stephen Ochola made before the second half injected the much-needed vigour in their midfield and fully took control of the proceedings. 

Wamalwa nearly drew Ulinzi level in the 58th minute after rising high to head in an inviting cross by Kago but the ball went slightly over the bar with Andika well beaten. 

Perhaps after sensing that Ulinzi were on the verge of leveling matters, KCB head coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno threw in the duo of James Mazembe and Henry Juma in the 62nd minute for Curtis Wekesa and Samuel Mwangi who struggled to adapt to the physical demands of the game. 

A minute later, Ochola brought in Mark Bikokwa for Waweru a change that saw Ulinzi commit more numbers to the striking department. 

The game was stopped in the 67th minute after Rama Mwenda went down unchallenged and would leave the pitch on a stretcher after the medics administered first aid. 

The injury saw Zico introduce Dennis Odhiambo and at the same time rested Simiyu for Derrick Otanga while Mohamed Kilume was replaced by Brian Ochieng. 

Otanga justified his inclusion after intercepting a back pass from Kevin Ouma before beating Saruni from close range to double KCB's advantage. 

KCB XI: Gabriel Andika, Baraka Badi, Nashon Alembi, Robinson Kamura, Rama Mwenda, Michael Mutinda, Michael Oduor, Samuel Mwangi, Mohamed Kilume, Curtis Wekesa, David Simiyu.

Substitutes: David Okello, Brian Ochieng, Simon Munala, Dennis Odhiambo, Reagan Otieno, Derrick Otanga, Thomas Harun, Henry Onyango, James Mazembe, Brian Wepo, Victor Omondi, Allan Akendo

Head coach: Zedekiah Otieno

Ulinzi Stars XI: James Saruni, Brian Birgen, Kevin Ouma, Bonaventure Muchika, Harun Mwale, Bernard Ongoma, Ibrahim Shambi, Clinton Omondi, Daniel Waweru, Oscar Wamalwa, Masita Masuta.

Substitutes: Stephen Otieno, Byron Odiaga, Peter Wafula, Emmanuel Nyati, John Kago, Omar Boraafya, Mark Bikokwa. 

Head coach: Stephen Ochola