football
Muhoroni Youth’s Premier League Journey Ends as Posta Rangers Draw Confirms Relegation
The home team Muhoroni Youth FC faced a harsh reality as Posta Rangers held them to a 1-1 draw, a result that sealed Muhoroni Youth’s descent into the National Super League In a dramatic turn of events at Muhoroni.
The team concluded their season in the 17th spot, amassing 32 points, just four points shy of Sofapaka, who occupied the 16th position. Muhoroni Youth’s fate was not solely in their hands; it also hinged on Sofapaka’s performance against Nzoia Sugar.
Sofapaka, the 2009 league champions, decisively secured their place in the Premier League, triumphing over Nzoia Sugar with a 3-1 victory, leaving Nzoia Sugar to lament their own relegation.
Sofapaka’s victory was orchestrated by the goals of Keegan Ndemi, Darius Msagha, and Jacob Onyango, while Joseph Oyogi’s goal for Nzoia Sugar served as a mere consolation. Despite the win, Sofapaka’s status in the Premier League remains provisional, pending a playoff against Naivas FC, the National Super League’s second runners-up.
Elsewhere, Shabana FC’s victory over Murang’a SEAL at the SportPesa Arena ensured their survival in the Premier League. The win allowed them to finish 14th with 38 points, thus avoiding the relegation playoff.
The match at Dandora Stadium showcased a resilient Sofapaka defense against an assertive Nzoia Sugar. Early on, Sofapaka’s goalkeeper Victor Augo made a remarkable save, denying Emmanuel Osoro’s close-range shot. The teams exchanged blows, with Sofapaka’s defense narrowly averting a goal from Msagha. Nzoia Sugar broke the stalemate when Joseph Oyugi deftly bypassed Augo, but Sofapaka quickly equalized through Ndemi.
The second half saw Sofapaka take charge, with Onyango and Msagha scoring to secure a 3-1 victory. Sofapaka’s head coach, Zedekiah Otieno, expressed immense satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing their focus on the upcoming playoff match to solidify their Premier League standing.
In other matches, AFC Leopards edged out Ulinzi Stars 1-0, Bandari FC defeated FC Talanta 2-1, Kenya Police and Kariobangi Sharks drew 2-2, Tusker FC narrowly beat Kakamega Homeboyz 1-0, and KCB FC concluded their season with a 3-2 win over Nairobi City Stars, finishing 10th in the league standings.