Steifmaster's Brace not Good Enough as KSJ Suffer Narrow Loss

Steve Suso ‘Steifmaster’ scored a brace for Kenya Sports Journalists (KSJ) but the scribes still slumped to a 4-3 capitulation at the hands of Maringo Bombers in a friendly match played at Ofafa Maringo grounds this past Sunday.

Ayoo put KSJ ahead in an entertaining end to end first half that had three goals to boot. KSJ began the proceedings with only ten men, a scenario that forced their TM Fred Maingi to abandon his smart-looking jeans and shirt for the red and white kit. Maingi’s first contribution on the pitch, however, was blatantly surrendering possession to the opposition with one of the faultiest starts you will ever see in the game of football.

Lucky enough, that would be his only contribution on the pitch as he got replaced barely ten minutes into the game by guest player Tobias Odhis. Maingi calmly walked off and dressed before taking his familiar position in the dugout.

The hosts started the match with real purpose perhaps wanting to play according to some script which dictated they score an early goal. They run the visitors ragged early on and their pressure bore dividends quarter way into the match after a well-worked move ended with the ball going past Vivian Akinyi, KSJ custodian. However, the hosts's celebrations were short-lived as a moment of individual brilliance saw Steve Obuya unleash one of his trademark 30-yard drives which found the back of the net in spite of the goalkeeper getting a desperate hand on it.

The game then went into a moment where it was played within yards of either side’s penalty area until at the half hour mark when Eric Opong Ochieng’s good work presented Ayoo with a chance which he couldn’t miss. The midfielder worked his way inside the penalty area leaving his markers for dead before drilling low and into the net. 2-1 to the Journalists and that is how the half ended.

Perhaps riled by the fact that they were trailing in their own backyard, the hosts recharged their ammunition in full throttle after the interval. After a series of sustained pressure, they drew level by breaking KSJ’s offside trap. The tough-tackling Bombers would then take the lead for the first time in the game when Ayoo turned villain after the ball accidentally hit his arm and the referee gave the hosts a penalty which was slotted in to put the game at 3-2 in favor of Bombers.

The game was almost abandoned thereafter following a plethora of bad officiating decisions, the highlight being a wrong offside call against Hamisi who was miles onside. Tempers flared with the referee getting some befitting tongue-lashing especially from Gregory Mulemi who was adorning the captain’s armband.

After so much hoo-ha and hogwash, the game was restarted and it was KSJ who got their feet running fast. Mulemi saw his stunning free-kick kiss the cross bar before Steifmaster scored his second after collecting a neat assist from Mulemi. He unleashed a vengeful belter that went in and left a round mark on the iron sheets behind the goalpost.

As minutes ticked by, it looked like the spoils would be shared, a fair result for either side given how the two teams had cancelled each other. However, the hosts took the lead again through a long strike that must have shaved off some hair off the head of Mulemi who deflected the ball past Vivian in goal. In all fairness, that was a goal worth winning any game.

With the scores at 4-3 in favor of Bombers, KSJ trooped forward in search of at least an equalizer and they thought they had gotten it when Ayoo was released by Mulemi for the umpteenth time but he saw his shot painfully cannon off the post. KSJ created three more chances, first Obuya forcing a good save from the opposition keeper before they were denied from what looked like a goal but which needed goal-line technology. The Scribes last effort on goal was an audacious 30-yard effort from Ayoo which was easily smothered by the opposition glovesman.

It was a great effort in deed from all the team members which included lady Sharon at right back, Kevo and Bob in central defence and Boni Kasembeli at left back.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!