Trouble deepens for Stojanovic as Police FC drop points against Mara Sugar FC

Huge pressure will continue to pile on Kenya Police FC head coach Dusan Stojanovic after his side settled for a 1-1 draw with Mara Sugar on Wednesday, 14 January, to make it five games without a win.

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Having been reported to have been staring at an exit last week, Stojanovic delegated much of the touchline duties to his new assistant - Nicholas Muyoti - as Police took an early lead, but failed to translate it to what would have been a crucial win.

Matters looked different for him when one of his January signings Yves Koutiama made it 1-0 inside the first 120 seconds, but the visitors clawed back shortly after the half-hour mark through Joseph Okwenda, ensuring the visitors snatched a precious point as they aim to avoid the drop.

The result did not help Police’s quest for another title challenge as they remained a distance off leaders AFC Leopards in fifth, while Edward Manoah’s side moved six points clear of the red-zone.

Match Report

Coming off a bland barren draw against KCB last Friday, the writing was seemingly on the wall for Stojanovic, who in the face of dwindling performances saw a new assistant join him on the touchline.

Whether the new man was brought in to serve as Stojanovic's shadow will develop in the coming days, but another set of dropped points against lowly Mara would definitely have not aided his cause.

A corner looked to have turned when Burkina Faso forward Koutimana fed off a wonderful assist from Hernest Malonga to round off Evans Ouma in the second minute, but much action thereafter, unfortunately bore no end product.

Midfielder Marvin Nabwire was quite unlucky to see his straight-forward attempt in the 10th come off the post, even as the visitors looked to be hanging on.

However, one chance is all Mara Sugar needed, as Okwemba swung a right boot to connect to a low free kick from Jimmy Owili to level matters in the 33rd minute.

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Stojanovic responded with two changes at the break, bringing on fresh signing Ally Awesu and Alvin Mang'eni for Eric Zakayo and Tobias Otieno.

Awesu, playing off the right side, did engineer some good moves, but Police found a stubborn Ouma in goal, who produced fine stops to fend off Koutiama and substitute David Simiyu late on.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Geoffrey Onyango looked prime to snatch a winner, but his header from close-range was hacked off the line by Robinson Muzungu, extending the hosts' run of games without a win.

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Mara, who only got close in the second half through a header from Timothy Ndayala, seemed content on the road, having gotten the best of their rear-guard, which was highlighted by a club debut for defender Nassor Shikokoti.