Sammy Kitula and Bozo Jenje
15 May 2011
Nairobi — Only two matches stand between Sofapaka and an unprecedented continental glory after they were handed Club Africain in the African Confederation Cup fourth round.
In the draw made on Sunday in Cairo, the 2009 Kenyan Premier League champions are set to play their Tunisian opponents next week in the first leg away in Tunis.
Should the Kenyans go past the North Africans after a two-leg tie, they will qualify for the group stages, another first for a Kenyan club.
Sofapaka will also earn Sh12 million, even if they lose all their group matches.
In the Kenyan Premier League, Stephen Waruru struck twice in each half, including a 46-second goal, as reigning champions Ulinzi Stars waded 2-1 through a stubborn Western Stima side at the water-logged Bukhungu Stadium on Sunday.
Failed to dislodge Tusker
The soldiers were leading 1-0 when their match was rained off on Saturday and they were happy to return to their Nakuru base with the maximum points.
Wycliffe Kemboi pulled one back for the hosts in the 35th minute.
At City Stadium, Kenya Commercial Bank failed to dislodge Tusker FC from the summit after they played to a 2-2 draw against a lukewarm Rangers outfit while Bandari crawled one position up to the 15th with a 1-0 win over Karuturi Sports.
The early part of the afternoon, at least, was given over to a spirited attack from Rangers. There was high energy, too, underlined by the interchanging midfield.
Experimentation was on show with Joseph Nyaga at times striking from the centre.
Delivered a harmless cross
It worked rather well. If there was any disappointment, it lay with their second-choice goalkeeper, Victor Omondi.
At times, the former AFC Leopards custodian had a difficult time dealing with those lobs and long crosses from Nyaga and Jaffer Gichuki.
It never came as a shock that he conceded after just 15 minutes.
League top-scorer Clifford Alwanga seemed to awe Brian Mandela as he delivered a rather harmless cross which Erick Okoth was happy to tap in.
Good start for Shedu
Intense in the first half but tepid in the second, KCB failed to build on their lead.
At Mbaraki Sports Club, Mombasa, a sixth-minute goal by Abdulwahab Musa enabled Bandari to collect maximum points over visiting Karuturi.
It was a good start for new Bandari coach, Rishadi Shedu who had only trained the team for three days.
Karuturi should blame themselves for missing several scoring chances with Eric Ochieng wasting the best of all in the 40th minute when his powerful drive hit the upper post.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Continued here:
Sofapaka Draws Tunisia Side As Brewers Still Top