Tusker are champions again
Tusker successfully retained the Tusker Premier League title with 60 points after spanking Nairobi City Stars 3-0 as their title rivals Gor Mahia shared the spoils with Thika United (1-1) on the final day of the season.
Going into the last match of the season, Gor were leading the table with 58 points, one ahead of second-placed Tusker and third-placed AFC Leopards – who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chemelil Sugar.
The brewers will go down in the history books, becoming the first team to win the title back-to-back for a second time, while their coach Robert Matano wins his second TPL title with two different teams.
Matano won the title with Sofapaka in 2009, and he’s done it again with Tusker after replacing Sammy Omollo at the beginning of the second leg of the campaign.
Tusker took a 2-0 lead into halftime thanks to Maurice Odipo’s thumping header in the 30th minute from David Nyanzi’s cross before Obadiah Ndege capitalised on a defensive lapse to head home the second goal in the 35th minute.
City Stars tried to come back into the game, making numerous raids forward, but they couldn’t penetrate the Joseph Shikokoti-led defence.
After the break, Matano brought in Fredrick Ajuang’ for Ndege and the former Sony Sugar hitman made an immediate impact.
With two minutes to the stoppage time, Ajuang lashed a powerful strike past keeper Peter Odhiambo from the edge of the box.
Tusker won the title back-to-back in 1999 and 2000. This latest TPL triumph is the Ruaraka-based side’s 10th.
