Injury concerns for Kilume and Ouru after Nairobi United match
Mathare United fought to defeat Nairobi United by a solitary goal at Dandora Stadium on Thursday, but it wasn’t all smiles for head coach John Kamau after the final whistle.
United, who came into the game having won just once in their last five games and had dropped into the relegation zone, were lifted by a Paul Kinyanjui strike with seven minutes left and consequently shot up into the top half of the league standings.
The win came at a price, though, with Mohammed Kilume and Brian Ouru limping off with muscle injuries sustained due to the slippery surface at the Dandora venue.
A visibly dejected Kamau, who had raised his concerns right before kickoff, had this to say after the final whistle: “I am disappointed because two of my key players have pulled (muscles) because of this surface. This is not a turf for playing matches, but rather a carpet for decorating your house. If we want our sport to progress, we have to be honest with ourselves.
“As I said before the game, we cannot expose our players to this kind of environment. This is not a surface for football. But all in all, I am happy with the way the team played. We created a lot of chances, and though we missed most of them, I am pleased that we have something to work on.”
With December a jampacked month for the Slumboys, there is no time to savour this win, especially with Kilume and Ouru uncertain to feature against Mara Sugar on Monday at Kasarani. United have four more games to contest before the league breaks for the festivities on December 21st.