Head coach Benjamin Nyangweso poured out his frustration to centre referee Nyabera Libese after Ulinzi Stars surrendered their lead to lose 2-1 to KCB at the Thika Stadium in FKF Premier League Wednesday afternoon match.A livid Nyangweso and his forward Masita Masuta ganged up to confront Libese after the final whistle, a tussle which culminated to unbridled criticism from the former, alleging that his job and that of other coaches was hanging by the thread due to poor officiating.The league winning coach called out Libese for giving KCB two penalties and a number of decisions which did not sit well with him.”If that’s the level of officiating we will be subjected to, we better not play. It is demoralizing to prepare a team for days only for the officials to work against you. He gave out two non-existent penalties yet there were no fouls committed. When we lose fairly, I always concede defeat but this one, his calls were biased, ” he protested.As Nyangweso wheeled away in agitation, his opposite number Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno was full of praises for his charges for coming from a goal down to bag their 15th win of the season which places them four points behind league leaders Tusker.Zico who came to the defence of the match day officials urged his players to keep their focus and take each match at a time.”We played well and fought to the last minute. We are not looking at the gap between us and any other team. Our minds are on how we can take three points from each game. The two penalties were clear hand balls in the box. I have seen myriad of attacks directed to referees and I encourage them to continue doing their job,” he said.Derrick Otanga would have stretched his tally to ten goals from the spot in the first minute of the game after centre referee Libese adjudged Bonaventure Muchika to have handled in the box but despite sending James Saruni the wrong way, his kick ricochoted off the woodwork.There was no resting for Saruni as he was called into action three minutes later where he came off the line to deny Victor Omune who had dribbled past Brian Birgen but the advancing custodian barred him from pulling the trigger.Ulinzi managed to annihilate the early pressure from KCB and grew into the game but their isolated centre forward Mark Bikokwa could not breach the KCB wall.The first half water break was met by protests from Zico as KCB were gathering rhythm again and making inroads into the soldiers territory.While the exasperated Zico protested, the Ulinzi technical bench made good use of the break give to the players to neck drinks to strategize.Nyangweso redeployed Masuta who was operating on the flanks to the centre while the Bikokwa who was dwarfed between Nahashon Alembi and Rama Mwenda moved to the opposite.The tactical tweak paid off as Masuta broke the deadlock three minutes to the break after turning in the box to lob the ball to the far reach of Joseph Okoth.After squandering a first half penalty, Otanga atoned in the 53rd minute after he converted from the spot to hit double digits as well as draw the bankers level.Libese had given the penalty after Harun Mwale handled in the box.Four minutes after conceding the equalizer, Ulinzi made a double change where Oscar Wamalwa and Kelvin Thairu came in for Bikokwa and Clinton Omondi respectively.KCB made theirs in the 61th minute with Zico bringing in the long serving Dennis Odhiambo for Omune while Henry Onyango made way for Michael Mutinda four minutes later.Zico would make another change ten minutes to the final whistle, throwing in the duo of David Simiyu and Simon Munala for Otanga and Michael Oduor respectively.Simiyu justified his inclusion eight minutes after coming on, beating Saruni from close range to win the three points for KCB.
