Western region fans will enjoy more football during the next season following the promotion of Vihiga United to the Sportpesa Premier League.
Vihiga United on Saturday joined Nzoia Sugar FC, Kakamega Homeboyz and AFC Leopards who have a majority fan base in Western Kenya.
Vihiga won National Super League champions after defeating Ushuru FC 1-0 at their Mumias Sport Complex home ground. Wazito also qualified after finishing second while Ushuru will play a playoff against Thika United.
In the do-or-die fixture Ushuru, who started the weekend at the top of the log with 78 points, squandered an opportunity to qualify directly by losing with a solitary goal.
Vihiga started the first half in attacking mood with captain Patrick Okulu missing a golden chance after a quarter hour of play when his close range shot went wide.
Vihiga took the lead in the 27th minute through Bernard Ochieng, whose powerful header from a fine Okulu’s cross went to the far bottom corner.
Ken Kenyatta’s boys tried in the second half to get an equaliser that would have guaranteed the direct qualification but in vain.
The tax men dropped to third place in 78 points and will have to wait for the playoffs with Thika United who finished third from bottom in the SportPesa Premier League.
Coach Edward Manoah said he was happy with the win and it was time to put behind the celebrations and work on the pre-season and transfers. “We reaped big from what we sowed and we have proved the boys are capable of achieving more in the future,” Manoah said.
The jovial Vihiga United chairman Indimuli Kahi exuded confidence that the new boys will prove the doubting Thomases wrong when they make their debut in top tier next season.
“We are happy to have won the league and earned the promotion. Now we are going back to the drawing board to ensure we keep pace with the rest in the top league,” Kahi said.
Vihiga United will be seeking to emulate and even surpass their neighbours Nzoia, who were promoted last season and managed to finish ninth on the log.
The Kakamega Homeboyz chairperson Cleophas Toto Shimanyula praised the new boys and asked them to keep their head down and utilise the pre-season to prepare well for the top tier. “I am happy to see another team from the region playing with us next season. This will bring more competition in the western region,”
said Shimanyula.
Homeboyz themselves had a stellar season, finishing fifth with 50 points. He, however, appealed for sponsors to come up and help the teams meet their expenses.
He said Homeboyz are in negotiation with the Kakamega County Government to take over the team from next season. Replacing Vihiga in the national super league will be Kakamega High School’s
Green Commandoes who topped FKF Division One Zone ‘B’ league.
