Mara Sugar will face Kenya Police in the quarterfinals of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup after beating Compel 2-0 in the Round of 16 at Moi Stadium, Kisumu, on Wednesday.
Noah Jagongo scored a brace in the 22nd and 82nd minutes.
The first goal arrived like a bolt from the blue. A perfectly weighted pass, a deft touch, and then – a thunderous shot that ripped through the air, leaving the goalkeeper grasping at shadows.
The second half was a tense affair, a brutal dance of tackles and near misses. Mara held on, their defence a wall of steel, their hope flickering like a candle in the wind.
Then, the impossible happened. A moment of individual brilliance, a weaving run that left defenders in his wake and a shot that found the back of the net with surgical precision.
Mara head coach, Edward Manoah, applauded his charges for displaying great character against a formidable opponent.
His tactical setup allowed Mara to exploit Compel’s weaknesses in defence while maintaining a solid structure that thwarted the opposition’s attempts.
“Compel gave a good account of themselves, but I am happy we managed to secure such a decisive win,” Manoah said.
“Our players deserve a pat on the back for such an outstanding performance. Our ambition remains the same; we are determined to play on the continental stage next season.”
Compel head coach George Mutimba said they lost to a more organised side, but chided his players for being wasteful in front of the goal.
“The match was tough. But I still believe we should have registered a better result if we had made good use of the opportunities we created,” Mutimba said.
“We live to fight another day and, hopefully, go a step further in the next edition,” he added.
