It’s tough times at Thika United FC as they slumped to a 3-0 horrific defeat against an organised, resilient Nzoia FC on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was the kind of performance and loss that can be defining to the tactician, the personnel and to the management in general.

Predictable

Despite going into halftime at a 0-0 stalemate, Thika United showed a rather depressing lack of character and conceded 3 goals in the last 22 minutes of the match, a pattern that has bedeviled the team in a predictable way in a number of matches.

Resolving

Fingers may be pointed at either or all the three departments (Technical, Personnel and Management) for the recent slump, but one thing remains certain, a decision has to be made in an attempt to finding a solution, to salvage the situation from getting worse.

Next Match

Thika United will have a few days to reorganize before their next assignment against Wazito FC on May 6th, at Camp Toyoyo-3pm. Compiled by Ken_magu.

Thika United FC suffered a 5-2 defeat in the hands of Kenya Premier League (KPL) defending Champions, Gor Mahia FC, on Sunday afternoon at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. 

 

The loss which is the fifth in 12 matches and having only managed a single win and six draws, the trend paints a rather daunting scenario with the team having plummeted to the 17th position in the 18 team league.Thika United had  similar struggles in 2017 and after picking two wins in the opening four matches, the team went on a 13 match win-less streak. We had to win the playoffs to avoid relegation.

There is Hope

The good news is it’s still possible to wiggle out of the slump with the remaining five matches left to the end of first leg, by treating the next five games as must win with a target of fifteen points; Add that to the current nine and the team would be in the top eight by June.

Well that looks easy on paper but it’s worth a shot, if the team can play with the same vigor and spirit they exhibited in the first hour of the Gor Mahia game then nothing is impossible.

Next Fixture

Thika United will be at home on Sunday 29th, to play Nzoia Sugar who also lost (3-1) to Vihiga United in their last league match.Compiled by Ken_Magu.

 

 

Thika United FC got their winning boots back on over the weekend, by beating one time Champions Sofapaka FC 2-1 in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) fixture staged at Thika Sub-County Stadium.

 

The long wait for Thika United to secure their first win this season finally ended on Sunday afternoon,Edmond Adem proved Thika United’s supersub, as he sprang from the bench to give Nicholas Muyoti a dramatic late victory.

The youthful tactician couldn’t hide his delight as his second half change produced decisive dividends, when the former Palos FC forward timed a brilliant run to get onto the end of a perfect delivery from Clement Masakidi on 83 minutes.

 

First Half

With the game in its infancy, scoring opportunities were scarce. The visitors ‘Batoto ba Mungu’ had the first decent chance of the afternoon in the 18th minute, with a crossbar strike from Yusuf Mohammed.

Thika United were reduced to 10 men after Said Tsuma suffered an arm twist after an awkward fall in the latter stages of the first half, before being replaced by Dennis Odhiambo.

Former Sofapaka forward Hansel Ochieng nearly put Thika United ahead in injury time of the first period, as matters ended all square.0-0.

Thrilling Second Half

Sofapaka striker Kepha Aswani, who also at one time turned up for Thika United, confirmed his fine form heading in a perfect Stephen Waruru corner in the 47th minute to score for the visitors.

 

But after that Masakidi, who joined Thika United at the start of the season, stepped up for Thika United, levelling in 58th minute by scoring from the spot after Hansel was brought down in area by keeper Kigonya.

Masakidi then turned provider this time catching the Sofapaka defence napping and curled a fine cross through for Adem’s  winning header in the 83rd, which marked his first league goal for Thika United and quite a memorable one since he joined back in 2017.

The teams

Thika Starting XI: Allan Owiny, Badi Baraka, Sosthenes Idah, Okumu Collins, Mwinyi Kassim, Michael Mutinda, Tsuma Said ( 45’Dennis Odhiambo), Balabala Franco, Hansel Ochieng (67′ Peter Okoth) , Masakadi Clement (mata), Mukangula Eugene (80’Adem Edmond)

Unused subs: Kevin Opiyo, Benson Iregi, Lewa Denis, Michael odongo.

Sofapaka Starting XI: Mathias Kigonya, Moussa Omar, Rogers Aloro, Edmond Kwanya, Yusuf Mohammed, Mohammed Kilume, Teddy Osok (60′ Kennedy Oduor)  Elli Asieche (78′ Mike Oduor), Stephen Waruru, Kepha Aswani, Umaru Kasumba (80′ Ibrahim Kitawi)

Unused subs: Emmanuel Opiyo,  Kennedy Oduor, Bernard Mang’oli, Ibrahim Kitawi, Michael Oduor, Ezekiel Okare, Timothy Luda

Next match

Thika United will be back in action on Sunday 15th away in Nakuru to play Ulinzi Stars at Afraha Stadium.Report by Ken_magu.

Thika United FC shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw with their Kenyan Premier League (KPL) counterparts Chemelil Sugar in Awasi, early yesterday afternoon in a rather cagey affair.

The two teams coming from a defeat in their respective previous matches took matters cautiously throughout the entire match.

Thika United who have found the maiden win elusive, shall be at home playing host to Sofapaka in their upcoming fixture on 8th April at Thika Sub-County Stadium from 3pm. Report by Ken_magu.

Despite taking a 7th-minute lead from a sublime free kick from  Captain Dennis Odhiambo, Thika United gave up the chance to bag maximum points against a more determined Posta Rangers who mounted a 3-1 comeback at Toyoyo.

 

Thika United’s former striker Kennedy ‘Agogo’ Otieno restored parity at the stroke of halftime with a thunderous strike outside the box; Gearshon Likono gave Posta the lead at the hour mark as Thika United looked helpless after a fine strike by the stout forward.

 

Coach Muyoti’s efforts to at-least salvage a point amounted to nothing after substitutes,  Adem Bala and Denis Lewa failed to hit the target on two similar heading opportunities through crosses from an over-lapping Sammy Meja.

Agogo put the match past Thika Uniteds’ reach in the 79th minute after scoring his brace and Posta Rangers third goal.The match ended 3-1.Report by Ken_Magu.

The venue for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) tie pitting Posta Rangers against Thika United FC set for Saturday 31 March has been changed.

The match was scheduled to be staged at Machakos Stadium but it has been shifted to Camp Toyoyo with kickoff time set for 2PM.

Cracker

Despite Posta Rangers being assumed a ‘hot-bed’ destination for former Thika United players in the recent past, with the likes of Levis Opiyo,John Nairuka, Simon Mbugua,Kennedy Otieno and most recent Suleiman Ngotho;

The weekend clash promises to be a cracker having registered a string of 3 draws (0-0 in 2016, 2-2 and 1-1 in 2017) in their last four encounters with Rangers having an upper hand winning one(1-0) back in 2016.

 

The match shall precede the Kariobangi Sharks vs Ulinzi Stars match slated for 4.15pm at the same venue.

For other KPL matches schedule follow… linkhttps://www.kenyanpremierleague.com/2018/03/28/2018-kpl-round-8-fixtures-and-tv-schedule/ Report by Ken_magu.