Mathare United lost 2-1 to Posta Rangers in the opening match
Mathare United head coach John Kamau says there is no cause for alarm despite losing 2-1 to Posta Rangers in the first match of the 2025/2026 season on Monday.
Mathare surrendered a 1-0 first-half lead at the Kasarani Stadium, Annex and now will look for an immediate response against KCB on Friday.
“I am not worried,” said Kamau, “A football season is a long one. If I did not worry last season, even when we conceded four goals on more than one occasion, then there is simply nothing to worry about after today.
“This match provided us with the perfect test to see where we are mentally, and I think this is where we need to concentrate more.”
The Slumboys, who won both home and away against the Mailmen last season, started Monday’s match strongly, dominating the possession and having several clear-cut chances through Paul Kinyanjui and John Nyawir.
As the opening half wore on, Mathare took a deserved lead through Elli Asieche’s 43rd minute penalty.
After the restart, however, the lads were less adventurous and took a more defensive approach, seeking to protect their slim lead. Unfortunately, they would not hold out for long as the visitors scored twice in the last 15 minutes to pick maximum points.
On his side’s lack of bite in the second half, Kamau said, “We played negatively when we decided to slow down the game completely, which played against us. Dropping deep isn’t our way of working, and to add to this, we gave away easy fouls, which is what allowed the opponents to come back.”