Mathare coach Odipo hails “emotional maturity” of his charges after ending Mara’s fine run

Mathare United head coach Leonard Odipo has lauded his team’s ‘emotional maturity approach’ to their match against National Super League leaders Mara Sugar whom they eclipsed 2-0 in weekend’s league match.

Mara had been unbeaten in the division since the season began, but Mathare brought them to earth with two clinical goals at the Utalii grounds in Nairobi to bag the win, Pascal Ogweno and Tony Odhiambo being on target, and Odipo is pleased by the show.

Mathare boss, Leonard Odipo lauded his side's emotional maturity approach to the match having been relegated from the country's 1st tier competition last season.

"Some of these players were in the team that got relegated from the Kenyan Premier League last season and you know that has some sort of emotional trauma on their mentality,” he said.  "But I love how the boys have responded and the goal is to basically get them all on board and focused on the vision we have.”

Mara boss Francis Xavier on his part was of a contrasting view being critical of his team's emotional maturity especially in conceding the penalty.

 "I think the team got carried away by the emotions of the match and they lost their heads and that is what I think contributed to even the penalty.

"If we kept our heads and emotions in check I don't think we would have conceded that penalty and so that is something that we need to work on,” Mara coach Xavier explained.

In other weekend fixtures, second-placed Naivas failed to capitalize on Mara’s loss as they fell 2-0 to Gusii FC while third-placed Kisumu All Stars shared the spoils with MCF FC in a barren draw at the Kenyatta Stadium.

Migori Youth played to a 1-1 draw with Nairobi United at Homa Bay Stadium.

Mara Sugar remain top of the log standings, level on points with Naivas in second-place as Kisumu All-Stars sit in third, followed closely by Mathare United in fourth.

Luanda Villa 1-1 Kajiado

Migori Youth 1-1 Nairobi United

Gusii 2-0 Niavas

Modern Coast Rangers 0-1 Darajani Gogo

Mathere Unite 2-0 Mara Sugar

Vihiga Bullets 4-1 Coast Stima

Silibwet 2-1 Dimba Patriots

Kibera Black Stars 1-1 Rainbow

Assad 2-1 Mulembe United