Abdallah Juma, the Chemelil Sugar coach alleged that in his 15 years of coaching, he had never seen refereeing as atrocious as he did when his side lost by a solitary goal to AFC Leopards on Sunday evening.
Juma bemoaned ‘three clear penalties’ and several other key decisions that referee Zachariah Ashira failed to award in their favor.
“This is embarrassing and I am very disappointed with the calls today. I never complain about officiating but today this has pained me. Three very clear penalties we had but his body language betrayed him. Even them (AFC Leopards) know they did not win this fairly,” a dejected Juma said.
Once in the first half when a shot deflected off an AFC Leopards defender’s arm, and twice in the second half over the same incident, Juma said they should have had penalties awarded.
Despite the loss, Juma was pleased with the performance of his youngsters saying they have shown very good fighting spirit despite difficult circumstances.
“Our sponsors have been going through a tough time financially and the players have gone for many months without salaries. I kept telling them to play for their pride and they did so. Right now things are looking up and the players have been paid by last week,” Juma added.
While the Chemelil boss was furious with the officiating, his opposite number Robert Matano was furious for different reasons. He picked out on his striker Alex Kitenge for various open chances missed.
“We won yes, but under difficult circumstances. Had we converted those chances, things would have been different. I am disappointed in Kitenge. You cannot call yourself a striker and have no shot on target,” fumed Matano.
Kitenge missed three clear chances
The Burundian forward on loan at the club from Bujumbura based Atletico Olympic had three clear chances in the first half, all which he wasted. Matano now says the striker who arrived in June does not have a future in the team.
Vincent Oburu scored the lone goal of the match in the ninth minute, breaking the offside trap to calmly finish off past Jairus Adira.
This was the first time Ingwe beat Chemelil Sugar since 2014. Over the last 15 years, AFC Leopards has beaten Chemelil only twice in league assignments.
The first leg ended 2-0 in Chemelil’s favor. AFC Leopards had started the tie well, pressing from the whistle and using the speed of Oburu and Aziz Okaka to open up the Chemelil backline.
Kitenge should have taken the hosts two up five minutes after going ahead, but blasted the ball into the side netting from the left with the goalmouth and keeper Adira at his mercy.
In the 22nd minute, Kitenge drew more anger from Matano when he side footed the ball wide from the edge of the box after being set up by Andrew Tololwa.
Minutes later, he broke away on the left and with three players to pick out inside the box, the striker blasted a heavy cross, landing on the other end of the pitch.
The more AFC Leopards missed chances, the more the visitors gained confidence.
In the middle of the pack, youngsters Faraj Ominde and Apollo Otieno had a ball in midfield, playing quick short passes and dictating the tempo of the game. They created the first chance in the 31st minute, but John Mwita failed to convert.
Andika spilled a long ball
Keeper Gabriel Andika spilled Jaffery Owiti’s long ball from midfield and Mwita picked it up, but could not direct the shot at goal.
Two minutes later, Ominde was set up by Collins Neto, but his rising shot went over. The effort had come at the end of a brilliant build up from the visitors, playing beautiful short passes from the back without Ingwe touching the ball.
A minute to the break, Chemelil came inches close but Andika produced a point-blank save to deny Mwita who headed at goal from an Owiti cross from the left.
In the second half, Matano started off with a double substitution, pulling out the misfiring Kitenge for Marcelus Ingotsi while Andrew Tololwa came off for Whyvonne Isuza.
espite the attacking changes, Chemelil were relentless in attack and created two chances 10 minutes into the second half.
Apollo Otieno broke into the box and shot low, his effort coming off the upright. He picked up the loose ball and went at goal again, but the ball hit Salim Abdallah’s arms with the defender on the ground. Chemelil’s penalty claims were ignored by the referee.
The midfielder picked the ball again and sprayed it wide to Mwita who however shot wide with keeper Andika at his mercy.
Fifteen minutes from time, Chemelil thought they should have had another penalty when once again Abdallah appeared to block a shot with his arms.
AFC Leopards had chances in the final five minutes of the game first with Ingotse finding shooting space at the edge of the box twice, once skying the effort while the second was saved.
Oburu had a chance for a brace in the 89th minute but his shot from the edge of the six yard box was saved by Adira.
KPL weekend results
Sunday: AFC Leopards 1 Chemelil Sugar 0 (Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani).
Saturday: Mathare United 2 Muhoroni Youth 1, Tusker FC 0 Sofapaka 1 (Ruaraka Complex), Bandari 1 Ulinzi Stars 0 (Mbaraki Complex, Mombasa), Kakamega Homeboyz 0 Gor Mahia 1 (Mumias Complex), Western Stima 1 Posta Rangers 0 (Moi Stadium, Kisumu), SoNy Sugar 0 Nakumatt 1 (Awendo Stadium).
