Tusker head coach Robert Matano was over the moon after his charges registered a crucial 2-0 win over Wazito at Ruaraka grounds on Wednesday to rise to the top of the Kenyan Premier League table.
The win fired the Ruaraka-based champions to 54 points, one better of second-placed Gor Mahia.
“I’m very happy with the team. They played well and we deserve the victory,” Matano said in a post-match interview.
Matano, however, remains emphatic that they are not under any pressure to deliver a second consecutive title after toppling the record champions.
“The threat posed by Gor Mahia is the least of our concerns at this moment in time. Our immediate focus is to collect maximum points from all of our remaining matches and we are not ready to allow any sort of pressure to distract us from that goal,” Matano added.
Wazito head coach Charles Odera said he was satisfied with the valiant fight put up by his team despite the defeat.
“Losing is part of the game but I’m happy that we are picking up and gradually finding our foot in the league. We’ve not been worse off in recent fixtures and we are sure to get better with time,” Odera said.
Eric Otieno fired Tusker ahead in the 12th minute following a scintillating cross from Lawrence Luvanda that found him strategically placed to slot in a header.
Daniel Sakari then picked out Luvanda with an inviting cross that the winger gladly fired into the back of the net for the second goal in the 22nd minute.
Elsewhere, Kenya Police bounced back from last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Tusker FC in style, thrashing Vihiga Bullets 4-0 in another rescheduled top-flight match at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County.
Harambee Stars midfielder Duke Abuya pounced on a long pass and deftly flicked the ball over the head of his marker to open the floodgates in the 13th minute.
The law enforcers made further raids that bore another fruit in the 38th minute when Francis Kahata tapped Baraka Badi’s cross into the gaping net.
Abuya teed up Alfred Mang’eni for the third goal in the 78th minute before Elvis Rupia completed the route in the second minute of added time to raise his stakes in the Golden Boot race.
Police, who remain fifth in the log with 43 points, have a crunch tie with Gor Mahia at Moi Stadium, Kasarani on Saturday.
Vihiga Bullets remain bottom of the log after amassing a paltry five points. They have an arduous task against next-door neighbours Kakamega Homeboyz at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday.
