Kariobangi Sharks have began to reap returns on the investment they made in Eric Mmata as his first half goal is all they needed to beat Posta Rangers 1-0 at the Thika Stadium in day one of the 2021/2022 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season. Mmata who was unveiled just 24 hours to tha game struck the match winning goal in the 17th minute to in a game that saw Sharks dominate proceedings for the better part of the first half.Posta custodian Kelvin Opiyo was called into action on a number of occasions in the opening minutes of the first half, denying Henry Juma from close range in the fourth minute.Two minutes later, the award winning glove man threw his body on the line to block a hard drilled shot by Sydney Lokale who had been put through by debutant Isaac Wasambo who had a decent game.The former APs Bomet was however no match to Eric Mmata’s low drive that gave Sharks the lead, a goal which also saw him open his goal account with the club after arriving hardly a day from Mt.Kenya United.Mmata who had made a couple of runs on the right wing was teed up spectacularly by Patillah Omotto before drilling a low shot past a fully stretching Opiyo to atone for the missed chances.Despite Sharks parading a largely youthful team, they continued to knock on the Rangers rear forcing coach Stanley Okumbi to make his first change in the 38th minute in a bid to contain the marauding Sharks.Okumbi surprisingly withdrew Joshua Nyatini for William Odero a change that saw Bernard Ondiek and the skipper of the day play at an advanced role, a change that saw them poke holes in the Sharks defence.New Sharks goalkeeper John Otieno who was rarely tested in the first half was cautioned in the dying minutes of the stanza for time wasting.Before restart, Okumbi made his second change bringing in Dinken Mwema for Eliud Lokuwam and consequently, the full backs joined in attack while the three centre backs manned he defence.However, the former Harambee Stars head coach had other thoughts eleven minutes later as he resorted to his initial formation after resting Kennedy Owino for Jackson Dwang.Lokale will have himself to blame for not giving Sharks their second goal after he fired wide in the 59th minute with the goalkeeper to beat. Omotto put the former national U20 forward but the pressure from Fauna Jacobs came in handy as he distracted him from placing the ball behind the advancing Opiyo.With the clock ticking towards the final twenty minutes of the game, Okumbi added firepower in his forward line substituting Alfred Ndinya and Brian Marita for Timothy Otieno and Francis Nambute.Juma and Wasambo on the other hand paved way for debutants Keith Imbali and Issa Lumumba while Geoffrey Onyango and Lokale went out for Julius Masaba and Felix Oluoch minutes later.
