Tusker FC was crowned champion of the Kenyan top league in the just concluded season and our football writers, who traversed the nation covering the matches, have some interesting selections in their teams of the season.How Tusker defied the odds to win their 12th titleRead on to see who they have selected and why. Give us your thoughts as well on the comments section. Imran Otieno’s Team of the seasonI go with Benjamin Ochan in goal as he has been outstanding for AFC Leopards this season and offered leadership from the back which kept them in a number of games. David Kalama has been a revelation for Bidco United in their debut season finishing with seven assists, the most by a defender.The centre back partnership of Rama Mwenda and Eugene Asike conceded the least goals respectively with the latter’s exceptional leadership qualities coming in handy in Tusker’s title charge.I could have David Owino at left-back but he featured as a left-winger for KCB so I go with Gor Mahia’s Ochieng who was one of the few shining lights in an otherwise dark season for K’Ogalo. It was sad seeing him ending the season with a career-threatening knee injury and I can only wish him a quick recovery. `Muguna needs no introduction but his deep-lying playing making role under Manuel Vaz Pinto was responsible for their 12-match unbeaten streak. Lawrence Juma and Muguna forged a formidable partnership at Gor Mahia before the former moved to Sofapaka. He continued to thrive at Batoto Ba Mungu and finished the season with 15 goals. James Mazembe finally came of age at Sharks after underwhelming seasons, finishing with the most number of assists, 11, while the right-wing is filled by Kevin Kimani who had one of his best seasons in recent years showing glimpses of his past as reuniting with Francis Kimanzi.Eric Kapaito finished the season with 24 goals breaking the 20 goal barrier that stood since 2015 while his strike partner in my team, Henry Meja enjoyed a fine debut season with Tusker FC finishing the season with 11 goals. Imran’s Team of the seasonKevin Teya’s Team of the seasonI settled on Stephen Njunge between the posts because he has been instrumental for the league returnees. His assured display between the posts were instrumental in helping the team finish seventh in the league.Johnstone Omurwa has been key for Wazito featuring in almost all the league games. Eugene Asike led Tusker to the league title. He was their best defender and chipped in with a couple of goals. KCB let in the fewest goals this season (23) and Nashon Alembi was a constant figure in that backline.Mohamed Siraj has been a cog in Bandari’s left-back position his attacking threat makes him line up as a wingback in my team. Rooney Onyango has been great for Wazito since making his bow in February. He’s both solid in attack and defending. He has a goal and a couple of assists to his name.Brian Ochieng was solid for KCB in the middle of the park and is partly the reason they let in the fewest goals. Lawrence Juma found the back of the net 16 times. Its arguably his best top-flight season as he scored almost half of Batoto ba Mungu’s goals. Jackson Macharia saw the least minutes among the best 11 but was still very effective in finding the back of the net ten times to help the champions get the title. Erick Kapaito scored 24 goals which are more than half his team scored. Elvis Rupia was in great form for Ingwe, getting 17 league goals and he’s largely the reason AFC Leopards secured the fourth spot.Murimi Njiru’s Team of the SeasonDespite missing out on the golden glove gong by just one clean sheet, Joseph Okoth has been impressive all season for KCB despite featuring in fewer games.Okoth will be shielded by a back four of Kevin Okumu, Harun Mwale, Nashon Alembi, and Eugene Asike.Since making the loan move to City Stars, Okumu has been in fine form all season and has produced attacking returns on his forward forays. Mwale has had a stellar performance with Ulinzi and has been one of the regulars for the soldiers and his performance in the just-concluded season has attracted interest from the Champions Tusker. Asike’s experience and composure have proved vital for Tusker in their run to the title with Alembi standing firm at the heart of KCB’s defense.Little has been said of Bidco United and Jacob Onyango. The defensive midfielder has been on top of his game when called upon.Lawrence Juma has been excellent for Sofapaka, scoring a whopping 16 goals and setting up a couple of others. James Mazembe and William Wadri will offer options on the wings after individual stellar performances, with Erick Kapaito and Elvis Rupia partnering up front with 41 goals between them.Lawi: Only a suitable offer will get me out of SofapakaThis team will be coached by Anthony Akhulia. In his maiden season in the top tier, Akhulia managed to guide his team to a respectable 11th finish, rubbing shoulders with some of the big boys including beating Tusker and were not a pushover in their first season working with his youthful bench.Stephen Ochieng’s Team of the seasonI settled for Benjamin Ochan in goal because for a long time this season, he brought a calming presence to Ingwe’s backline that lacked proper hands in between the sticks in recent seasons.For a player who was only on loan, Kevin Chumsy Okumu characterized true spirit as he helped Nairobi City Stars maintain their top flight status after gaining promotion from the NSL. So crucial was he in that position that City Stars always struggled on the few occasions he was not available for selection.Settling on Rupia, Kapaito and Juma was not much of a task as they were the shining lights of their season. That train of thought led me to picking William Wadri in the creative ten role where he has on a number of occasions been deployed in topping the league scoring charts at Bandari.Muguna grabs a slot in my team of the season due to his insane and effortless ease to keep the game ticking and always providing a solution creatively.Meshack Kisenge’s Team of the seasonJames Saruni kept the most clean sheets in the league and his ball distribution skills capped by leadership makes him my number one.From the time Rooney Onyango arrived at Wazito, Francis Kimanzi stopped worrying over the right wing fas he has gone to establish himself as the first choice at the club. His runs and crosses have also been a joy to watch.The unavailability of Omar Mbongi has earlier deemed as a massive blow to Ulinzi Stars but Harun Mwale grabbed the opportunity and his performance compelled coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee to give him his maiden Harambee Stars call up.Eugene Asike’s experience and leadership skills have undoubtedly played a crucial role in Tusker’s march to the title. When he was sidelined, the struggle in the defence was there for all to see.Nashon Alembi is among the tens of players who consider this as their breakthrough season. Before the campaign started, he was staring at the possibility of being a free agent after Ushuru went under but Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno gave him the lifeline. Having struggled at Tusker where the competition for playing time muscled him out, the towering defender proved that he had come of age as he was the constant figure in the KCB defence.Fidel Origa is one player who will read the opponent’s moves and make timely interceptions. He is excellent in passing the ball forward and is never afraid of picking cards for the team.Lawrence Juma’s decision to ditch Gor Mahia for Sofapaka reminded everyone the player he was while at Nzoia Sugar. At Sofapaka he was given the freedom to play at an advanced role and did not disappoint as his goal contribution as well as offering leadership especially in the second leg is an open secret.Reagan Otieno ranks high in the list of top wingers in the league. Whenever Zico wanted to open his opponent’s defence, Reagan was among the players he would look up to. He was a threat in the box and would occasionally drop to help David Owino in defending.No goalkeeper was ever ready for David Odhiambo’s shots unleashed by his left foot. If he was not unlocking the opposing defence, he was shooting or taking fierce freekicks which contributed immensely to Homeboyz’s sixth place finish.Shortly after he was named the February player of the month, William Wadri admitted that he was once a forward before switching to midfield. His old traits came to play this season as he hit double digits. He is intelligent in the box and has the rare ability of using both feet comfortably as well as creates scoring chances.Were it not for recurring injuries and the three missed penalties, Erick Kapaito would have probably broken the contentious top flight goal records. He was simply lethal in front of the goal.
