Umeme Bees and Nyoi will be facing off in today’s first quarterfinal match at the 41st annual Kothbiro Football Tournament quarter-finals stage at iconic Ziwani Sports grounds.
The tournament which has been held in December holidays has moved to this time as teams and players from grassroots to Internationals registered and are participating.
Ping fc from Kawangware dismissed Ruaraka All Stars in a thrilling match to set up an appointment with Kingstone fc nicknamed the carnivores from Shauri Moyo. Ping who are debutants in the tournament will face a highly unpredictable Kingstone who were last season’s semi-finalists. Kingstone have steadily been improving in the tournament’s ranking sinc e they transformed from the highly volatile Lebanon FC. Kingstone defeated their 2018 season nemesis Bundes FC by 2 goals to 1 is a thrilling match. Bundes defeated Kingstone last season in both the group stage and semi-finals matches.
Tournament favorites Umeme Bees are on a roll despite just managing a hard fought solitary goal in the 86’ courtesy of Tuskers sensation Clyde Senna Senaji against Soka Talent. The Bees from Ziwani, featuring a highly entertaining young team that utilizes the Samba system of play squeezed through their round of 16 match against Soka Talent from Kibera who also have some wonder kids in their ranks but just failed to make the cut.
The Bees nicknamed the Lollipop darlings of the crowd, will square it off against Nyoi in a match that has been declared as the pre-mature finals. Nyoi popularly known as team ya ofisi are responsible for eliminating teams from Majengo who are their perennial and fiercest rivals. Nyoi walloped Wenyeji in the group stages and managed a hard fought single goal against Borrussia fc in the round of 16. The solitary goal was a heavy header from a corner neatly tacked in by Artudo Ngugi.
Surprise tournament package Allin Jua-Kali from Embakasi continued their riotous ways by slicing through Githurai United like a hot knife on butter by 3 unreplied goals. Githurai United last season’s finalists have been a force to reckon with and they were poised to repeat last season’s success especially after they downed a heavily star studded Globe Trotters in a do or die match for the latter. Githurai could not withstand the tongs and anvils of the mechanics from Embakasi who scored through; Victor Ochieng 6’, George Odhiambo 26’ and Nalcot Wala 80’. Allin Jua-Kali are heavily lifted by their 13th player who are their hundred of noisy travelling fanatics. Could this be another South B fairy run considering they also downed the defending champions Cinema from Jericho? Napoli from Mathare stands between their dreams and exit.
Napoli went through Kahawa Deportivo sneaking unnoticed to the quarters. The boys from Mathare sailed through courtesy of Meshack’s Ochieng 36’ volley.
Isli North’s magnificent run came to a halt against Dallas fc. The lions from Muthurwa struggled against a tactful and skilful Isli North but their persistence paid dividends in the 80’through Keith Imbali.
In the last knock-out match, Brian Musa’s 25’ shot was enough to take MASA to the quarter finals and eliminate last season’s quarter finalists, Shauri Moyo Sportiff.
The quarter finals fixture:
Thursday, 25th July.
12pm: Ping fc vs Kingstone
3pm: Umeme Bees vs Nyoi
Friday 26th July.
12pm: Allin JuaKali vs Napoli fc
3pm: MASA vs Dallas fc