Charles Thuku @PeopleSports11
Debutants Alin-Jua Kali made a shock entry in the final of Koth Biro tournament after securing a hard fought 1-0 win over pre-match favourites Makongeni Sports Association (MASA) in an ill-tempered encounter at Ziwani sports ground in Nairobi yesterday.
Following the feat, Jua Kali booked a date with Shauri Moyo-based Kingstone in the final slated for August 3 after the latter beat Umeme Bees also by the same margin in Saturday’s first semi-final. And for all their troubles, MASA will contest for the third place play-off with Bees on August 2.
Former AFC Leopards striker Victor Ochieng was the toast of Jua Kali when he headed home the team’s winning goal in the 60th minute after a corner was floated in by Richard Donald.
MASA will blame themselves for the loss after missing numerous chances late in the match which they dominated.
Cheered by a noisy band of fans, MASA squandered chances with the closest coming on the feet of Joachim Oloo and Fredrick ‘Uche’ Onyango in the 79th and 81st minutes respectively.
However, it was Jua Kali who showed hunger for goals early in the match when Rafaez Ndukwe found himself unmarked in the fourth minute but blasted the ball over the cross bar.
Three minutes later, the struggling MASA were second time lucky not to concede after Kelvin Abungu’s shot off a pass from Victor Muchira went agonisingly wide.
MASA then came back in the game and twice, Crispin Oduor missed sitters when at the mercy of Jua Kali’s goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, MASA face imminent sanctions following incidents of crowd trouble from a section of their fans after yesterday’s match against Jua Kali.
Trouble started after the final whistle when the fans attacked their Jua Kali counterparts in a melee that left at least four people injured.
