New season, same Wazito?
It may be too early to conclude that Wazito have flattered to deceive, but the 4-0 defeat the team suffered at the hands of Kariobangi Sharks at the start of the BetKing Premier League at the weekend must be a disturbing experience for them.
It is ironic that this is the same team that sacked head coach Fred Ambani, his assistant Salim Babu and goalkeeper trainer Elias Otieno after they lost two pre-season friendly matches.
For former national team trainer Francis Kimanzi, who replaced Ambani, the hiding from Sharks is one he would wish to forget in a hurry and especially given the benchmarks set by the club owned by Swedish tycoon Ricardo Badoer who has no qualms sacking under-performing managers.
During the recently concluded transfer window, Wazito made marquee signings among them ex-AFC Leopards offensive midfielder Vincent Oburu, national under-20 team prodigy Fidel Orika, Kevin Kimani who was plucked from Mathare United and former Gor Mahia custodian Peter Odhiambo.
Yet the team found Sharks’ tactical supremacy at the Moi International Sports Centre a tad too much which is why they should go back to the drawing board ahead of its second league fixture.
Apparently, it was Sharks who recorded the highest winning margin in the weekend that yielded a total of 14 goals.
Besides Sharks, KCB recorded a healthy scoreline in their 3-0 whipping of Posta Rangers whose coach Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo was away with Gor Mahia in Rwanda for the preliminary Africa Champions League clash against APR FC.
Derrick Otanga set the pace of the game with a clinical strike in the ninth minute for the Bankers to close the first half leading 1-0.
On resumption, KCB resumed where they had left with Otanga earning his second before Enock Agwanda sealed the scores.
Otanga thus joined Kariobangi Sharks’ Eric Kapaito as the leading scorers with two goals after the latter also sunk a brace in the team’s thrashing of Wazito.
Like Sharks and KCB, newly promoted Nairobi City Stars’ were in scintillating form as they made a dream start in their campaign in the top tier league by beating Nzoia Sugar 2-0 at Ole Ntimama Stadium in Narok.
AFC Leopards, Kakamega Homeboyz and Bandari also had a reason to celebrate with slim winning margins.
Most of the matches were played in water drenched surfaces following heavy rains that pounded sections of the country at the weekend.
