KPL U19 : Thika Utd 1 Gor Mahia 0
courtesy of goal.com
Thika, who are the defending champions, will now take on Mathare United in their second match of the competition at the same venue on Wednesday
Thika United head coach John Kamau has encouraged the teams’ U-19 squad currently under coach Moses Irungu to stay focused after edging out Gor Mahia 1-0 at City Stadium on Monday.
“I am glad with the development of both the team and my deputy coach Irungu in the way the team is developing and my advice to the young lads is to have some positive fun in this tournament.
I have urged them not to over pressurize themselves with the defending champions stigma, but rather play football to the fullest and the rest will align itself,” Kamau told the club’s official website.
Thika, who are the defending champions, scored through Hector Mbunde in the 42nd minute of the closely fought match, and will now qualify for the quarter-finals if they stop Mathare United in their second match at the same venue on Wednesday.
Gor Mahia fielded a side comprising of FISA Academy players. Thika’s charges were led by senior team players John Nairuka, Jackson Machariah and Antony Gicho.
Gor Mahia had the early chances of the game and they had a great chance to open the scores in the 36th minute, Evans Amimo’s header coming off the bar. Thika United’s defense was found flat footed by George Otieno’s cross and they were lucky Brian Chege failed to guide the ball home from the rebound.
Thika took their chance seven minutes later, Hector Mbunde making the most of Badi Baraka’s ball to slot past Ezekiel Onyango in Gor Mahia’s goal. Going into the second half, Thika never relented the attacks and in the 53rd minute, Onyango was forced to a full stretch save to deny Michael Omach.
these r the fruits of not nurturing a youthful/academy team.this was expcted and should act as a wake up call to the EC if at all cares to listen.
Man….Even the future is not looking good
Please gentlemen i was at the stadi n saw the game this team was just assembled the other day but if u look at the way they played u will realize that we av talents down there,thika is one team who assembled there under 19 more than one year back but our boys played well n if this team is left the way it is then they can go far
Erico,the question is,why should a team of gor’s calibre assemble a team at the eleventh hour?for a team keen on youth/talent development?no wonder we hav a team of players who more or less age same time.