Kenya: Taqwa Dominate Copa Cola in North Eastern

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

17 May 2011

Taqwa FC produced one of the best performances of the Copa Coca-Cola tournament so far with a 2-0 win over local rivals St. Kizito at Isiolo Boys Secondary School ground. The community team took their game a notch higher in their second match by thumping a hapless Isiolo Barracks side 5-0. Against Kizito, Taqwa showed their intent early by floating in three brilliant free kicks within the opening ten minutes of the match, two of which went just wide with the third one hitting the post. Their relentless attacks were rewarded just quarter-way into the match when Isiolo Boys’ defender Abdisalan Issack headed the ball into his own net from a corner.

The well-drilled Taqwa outfit had their opponents on the back foot for most first half the but failed to convert the opportunities that came their way. It was Taqwa who again started the second half brightly as their pass and move football clearly overwhelmed and wore down the saints. They doubled their lead at the half hour mark when the industrious Mujahideen Abdi slotted a Mohamoud ‘Ozil’ Adow cross past a helpless Isiolo keeper. Adow then waltzed and jinked his way past three defenders before hitting an inviting through ball to Mujahideen but the diminutive midfielder squandered the chance to extend Taqwa’s lead.

In their second match, Taqwa fired a warning shot to their next opponents in the county finals with a dominant and convincing five goal to nothing mauling of a more senior Barracks side. Mahamoud Abdul and Suleiman both grabbed a brace each while Hassan Hared completed the rout to give Taqwa a much deserved and emphatic win over Barracks.

Isiolo Boys bounced back from their loss to Taqwa to beat St. Kizito 3-1 and also book their place in the county finals. In the girls’ category, Fanstar qualified for the provincials after coming from a goal down to beat Glittering Stars 2-1, thanks to goals from Irene Gatwirie and Jackline Kawera, either side of Zeinab Ali’s consolation for the Stars.

This was in spite of Fanstar’s 2-1 loss to table-toppers and fellow provincials-bound Isiolo Girls. Sabina Angelina scored a hat-trick and Farhiya Shariff added another for St. Kizito Girls as they ran riot against Glittering Stars but their 4-1 win could not take them beyond the group stages. Zeinab Ali was the only star that shone for the Glittering stars with a last minute consolation.

In results from other counties, St. Mathias were the big winners in Busia County hitting three goals past Bujumba who also lost their second match 2-1 against Malaba youth. A solitary goal was enough for Villa to earn a 1-0 win over Farm. Mundika beat Bukhalalire 2-0 before sharing a 1-1 draw with Farm.

In Makueni, Unoa Sportif overwhelmed Mwaani Boys 3-0 in the boys’ only match. In the girls’ matches, AIC Muyuni handed both Ititu and Mwaani girls a 2-0 beat down. Ititu saved their face with a 3-1 win over Makueni Girls. St. Daniels gave Ikuu and Mukuuni a 4-0 thumping each in Tharaka/Nithi county as Gatunga eased to a 3-1 win over Karigini before they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tharaka. Tharaka then narrowly edged out Karigini 1-0, a scoreline that was repeated by Chogoria in their match against Wukuuni.

Karigini and Mukuuni were involved in a four-goal thriller as they both saw the back of each other’s net twice, as Chogoria beat Mukuuni and Ikuu 2-0 and 2-1 respectively. The biggest scoreline of the week eight games was in Mombasa where Mombasa United humiliated Changamwe girls 8-0 in a one-sided encounter before edging past Khamis 2-1.

Changamwe’s goal was then breached four times by Gulshan youth while Mombasa Baptist drew 0-0 with Serani Secondary before beating Tudoy Day by a solitary goal. Shimo la Tewa and St Lwanga both won 2-0 and 1-0 against Serani Secondary and Mama Ngina respectively.

In Kwale, Ukunda Youth stunned Waa Boys 5-0, Gamehard beat Kayatiwi 2-0. In the girls category, Mwaluphamba drew one all with their counterparts from Alamada while the same scoreline was registered between Waa and Kwale Girls.

AllAfrica – All the Time