AFC Leopards hit right notes, but will they sustain tempo?
BetKing Premier League may be at its infancy stage but AFC Leopards and KCB have already sent a statement of intent with two wins.
Ingwe and the Bankers enjoy a handy six-point lead but only time will tell as to whether they shall be consistent in the 2020/21 season which kicked off on November 28.
Leopards, who started the league with a 2-1 win over Tusker, beat newcomers Bidco 2-0 as former Nzoia Sugar striker Elvis Rupia helped himself to a brace in a result that resonated with the club chairman Dan Shikanda’s declaration that the team was seriously targeting the title which they last won in 1998.
“We want to return Leopards to their rightful place in the top tier league and trust me, we will be a different preposition altogether in the new season,’’ said Shikanda.
Leopards’ victory was even more remarkable in that it came when they had just started life without expatriate coach Tomas Trucha who resigned from the team in a huff over ‘interference of his job by outside forces.’
The first half between the Big Cats and newcomers Bidco in Kasarani was rather slow as both teams registered bookings in their attempts for goals which came nought.
After resumption, Leopards kept up the pressure and in a well orchestrated sense of teamwork, Rupia popped in a goal in the 67th minute and went ahead to add another in the 82nd minute.
In the meantime, KCB, just like Leopards, seemingly mean business after beating Nairobi City Stars 1-0.
For City Stars, the misfortune was a mockery of a dream start in their campaign when they blitzed Nzoia Sugar 2-0.
KCB who are sitting top have yet to concede a goal unlike second placed Leopards.
Three teams share the third position with four points each -- Kariobangi Sharks, Kakamega Homeboyz and Bandari.
At Utalii grounds, Tusker remained winless after playing out a barren draw with Bandari who had started the season on a high by dismissing Sofapaka 1-0 at Mbaraki Sports grounds.
For Sofapaka, they did well to make a comeback by defeating Western Stima at their new fortress in Wundanyi but they certainly will need to conjure up more wins to pull themselves up from the joint third position they occupy with Nairobi City Stars and Wazito.
Like Sofapaka, Wazito, who were smarting from an awful start in the league, dusted themselves up with a convincing 3-1 win over Vihiga United at Utalii grounds last Friday.
Gor Mahia, Mathare United, Ulinzi Stars, Zoo Kericho have also yet to play a single due to disagreement with FKF over a broadcast deal. Bidco United are yet to register a win.
