Mara Sugar players lauded for 'good effort' against Gor Mahia
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 28.05.26. | 13:04
The Sugar Millers earned their first league point over K'Ogalo on Wednesday in Homabay
Mara Sugar head coach Francis Xavier thinks his team produced a “good effort” against league champions Gor Mahia on Wednesday, 27 May, this despite giving up a host of goalscoring opportunities in the barren draw.
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Speaking to Azam TV post-game, Xavier said the manner in which The Sugar Millers approached the game against K’Ogalo was very different compared to previous iterations, and could play a role in them achieving their desired top 10 finish this season.
“I think it is a good effort from the team,” Xavier said, when asked to react to the stalemate at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homabay. “During our first leg, we had some inferiority complex catching up, but today I've seen the boys come up confidently.”
Given the advantage of facing a team that had nothing to lose, Mara Sugar dictated play on the day with tempo, while carving out multiple chances to take the lead, which they could not take.
In the second half alone, Gor Mahia had to rely on the exploits of goalkeeper Bryne Omondi and defender Bryton Onyona to keep the scores intact, with the latter producing a timely goal-line clearance in the 76th minute to whack an Aineah Ndeto effort towards an empty goal to touch.
Second half substitute Dennis Cheruiyot was the biggest victim for Mara as he squandered three opportunities, with teammate Daniel Wafula misfiring from range shortly after the hour mark.
Still, the draw earned Mara Sugar their first-ever point against Gor Mahia, since their promotion to the top tier.
“The boys have played well, and missed some chances which maybe they should have converted,” Xavier said. “But all the same, it is good to get that one point from the champions.”
As it currently stands, Mara Sugar are set to record their first top-half finish in the Premier League, as they occupy eighth position with 44 points.
It is Xavier’s wish that they do not slip up further, with a game against Murang’a Seal still to go on Sunday, 31 May.
“I think in the second part of the league we have done well, we have attained our targets,” Xavier said. “It is up to us to make sure that if we can crown it with a victory in our last match, then it will give us what we want at the end of the season, which is the top 10.”