Kenya: Gor And Ulinzi Stars Renew Rivalry in Kpl Top 8

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Francis Wadegu

18 May 2011

WITH eyes firmly fixed on the Sh1million winners bounty, Gor Mahia and Ulinzi Stars renew their rivalry in the inaugural KPL Top Eight football tournament tonight.

The two team battled to a barren draw in the first leg at Nyayo Stadium a month ago but today a winner must be found. “It will be a close contest because Ulinzi are a very strong team and have been on a good run lately. The fact that it is a semi final match makes it even more important for us,” said Gor and national team, Harambee Stars coach Zedekiah Otieno. “The team that will concentrate more and take its opportunities will emerge victors eventually,” he added.

Ulinzi will be on a high following their morale boosting 2-1 league win away at Western Stima and will hope to be fourth time lucky facing Gor in the city after two consecutive league defeats and the first leg draw. Besides, Ulinzi welcomed back four key players into the team last weekend.

Skipper Stephen Ocholla, Erick Apul, Chester Okoyo and keeper Francis Ochieng are the players who have returned to the soldiers camp but it is the form of striker Stephen Waruru that should worry K’Ogallo. The former Thika United forward scored two goals in the league win over Stima at the weekend and also scored a potential goal of the season. He will no doubt be handful to Gor’s youthful defence of Musa Mohammed and Eric Masika. “We are going into this match looking for the win that will propel us into the final. I am confident my players are up to the task at hand today,” said Ulinzi coach Benjamin Nyangweso, who led them to their fourth league championship last season.

K’Ogallo have been struggling in front of goal, averaging a goal per match with strikers Edwin Lavatsa and Ezekiel Odera, short of goal scoring form. However much will rest on experienced Maurice Odhiambo to provide the key to unlock Ulinzi’s tough defence of Babadogo raised duo of Josiah ‘Arega’ Onyango and Geoffrey ‘Koki’Kokoyo. The winners of this tie will face either Sofapaka or Western Stima in the finals.

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