Sony Sugar travelled to Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega to face a poor Western Stima side that has lost 11 of their last matches, making it 12 after the loss today.
The build up to the game was covered in drama since Western Stima Henry Omino as their head coach after Paul Ogai had resigned days into today’s fixture. Prior to the appointment, Henry Omino was a tactician to the visiting side.
Western Stima were lucky to hold off Sony Sugar in the first half and a few minutes into the second half.
Sony Sugar managed to pull ahead in the sixty six minute through a Derrick Otanga goal. Otanga would add on to his goal tally in added time to ensure Sony Sugar firmly took the three points.
Otanga had been heavily linked with a move to AFC Leopards and made good to his rise as one of the best strikers in the game.
Sony Sugar moved to the 7th position with this win and are now on par with Tusker FC at 38 points with Tusker having a better goal advantage.
Western Stima will retain their 14th spot in the KPL table with 27 points.
Sony youngster Tobias Omondi saw his 41st-minute free-kick agonizingly bounce off the crossbar with keeper Samuel Odhiambo well beaten.
On the other end, three minutes later, Erastus Mwaniki could have sent the hosts one up but his right foot effort from a Mukisa Junior free-kick went way off the mark.
Stroke of Genius
Coach Patrick Odhiambo withdrew Daniel Otieno for Derrick Otanga upon resumption and by some genius stroke- this bore him the long-awaited goal. In the 65th minute, Otanga got himself in between Clifford Omondi and Mukisa Joseph and won a long ball sent out before lobbing it over keeper Odhiambo who had come off his line.
Stima came off the ropes looking to equalize and dully earned free-kick just outside the visitors’ box. Mukisa and Kennedy Otieno stood behind the ball but the diminutive Ugandan’s effort bounced off the wall before flying out for a corner.
Otanga then showed up late in the game, rounding off keeper Odhiambo and slotting into an empty net for goal number two.
2-0 it ended in favor of Sony Sugar as coach Salim Babu began his Western Stima tenure on a wrong footing against his former side.