Kenyan footballers abroad in active engagement
Barry Silah @obel_barry
It was yet another busy run for Kenyan footballers abroad at the weekend with different results coming through.
Kashiwa Reysol striker Michael Olunga who currently tops the Japanese JL League scoring standing with 16 goals failed to net as his side was held to a 1-1 draw by Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Japanese J1 League.
The point picked saw Kashiwa Reysol move one place upwards to sixth on the log with 27 points in 17 matches.
In the same region, Ayub Timbe’s Beijing Renhe beat Beijing BSU 1-0 in the Chinese League One season opener.
Elsewhere, Kenyan defender Clarke Oduor had no role in Barnsley’s 0-2 loss at the hands of Reading FC in the English Championship. At the same time, Jonah Ayunga had 16 minutes in Bristol Rovers 0-2 loss to Ipswich Town in the English League One.
In the Swedish Superettan League, the red-hot Eric Johanna scored a goal in Jonkopings Sodra’s 4-1 thrashing of Oster.
Johanna was introduced in the 46th minute and notched his ninth goal of the campaign 10 minutes later.
Sodra is now an impressive third on the log with 35 points in 19 matches with four wins off the last five games.
In the lower Ettan League, former Bandari FC star Anthony Wambani of IF Vasalund had 72 minutes of play time in their 4-0 demolition of Team Thoren on Saturday.
In the Serbian top division, Richard Odada had 57 minutes of play time as his Graficar side were held to a 1-1 draw by Zakovo in the PRVA Liga.
Closer home, ex-Gor Mahia vice-captain Joash Onyango played the entire match for Simba SC as they mauled Francis Baraza’s Biashara United 4-0 in the Tanzanian Vodacom Premier League.
Kenyan international Francis Kahata did not feature in the match, same to Biashara’s defender Bolton Omwenga formerly of KCB FC.
In up north,it was a meeting Cliff Nyakeya of Tanta FC and John Avire of FC Masr as the two sides battled to a goalless draw in Egyptian top -flight.
Speedy winger Nyakeya came in the second half of the match while Avire hopped out with an injury later on in the duel.
Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Arnold Origi posted 90 minutes between the sticks as HIFK tied 2-2 with Marienhamn in the Finnish top flight. HIFK are now fifth on the standings of the Veikkausliiga with 24 points off 15 matches.
