Coach Dylan Kerr’s tenure at Gor Mahia got off to a flying start but he was not all satisfied, as AFC Leopards’ Robert Matano remained hopeful despite suffering his first defeat on his return at the Den, while Tusker’s George Nsimbe insisted they are on track to retain the league title even as they drew again, and victorious Nzoia Sugar’s Bernard Mwalala was all celebratory.

Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr: “Everybody wants to beat Gor Mahia (beat Nakumatt 2-0). Today Nakumatt played just the same way we played against Everton. They simply didn’t want to get beaten. That was a good performance, I am happy especially with the second half. We wasted a lot of chances in the first half, but Nakumatt really opened up the game in the second half and we had a better performance. I think we could have done better in the final third, with the kind of chances we created.”

Muhoroni Youth coach Gilbert Selebwa: “Being our second game in the league, looking at the progress we have made, I am happy (drew 1-1 with Sofapaka). Most of our players are new. Sofapaka have match fitness, we don’t. That penalty we conceded was a setback for us and I would like to applaud my players for showing character and collecting one point away from home and against such an accomplished side like Sofapaka.”

Sofapaka coach Sam Ssimbwa: “I’m totally disappointed (drew 1-1 with Muhoroni). Disappointed because we created several chances, almost 10 good chances, yet we couldn’t win the game. I am lost for words. We created a lot and we dominated the game, but only have one point to show for it.”

AFC Leopards coach Robert Matano: “Finishing was a problem today and I think it is because my forwards weren’t at their best (lost 1-0 to Western Stima). Oburu struggled so much and couldn’t even continue in the second half. Majid just came back from Spain and hasn’t trained with us for a while so he also wasn’t very effective. I think we played very well in the second half. It is not going to be easy taking the team back up, but right now we need to change from this losing disappointment and get a winning mentality.”

Nakumatt coach Anthony Mwangi: “The boys played very well, the only thing that let us down was lack of concentration, ball handling and inability to make quick decisions (lost 2-0 to Gor Mahia). I think there is a big problem with Kenyan players in terms of ball handling skills. We are playing them (Gor Mahia) again this week but I don’t think we shall change the squad much. I just want the boys to concentrate more so as to avoid conceding in the fifth minute like today.”

Tusker coach George Nsimbe: “We still remain committed to our ambition of retaining the league title despite today’s draw (drew 1-1 with Posta Rangers). The league is far, far from decided. There is are still many games to be played and enough time for us to do something about retaining the title.”

Posta Rangers coach Sammy Omollo: “We have worked hard to be where we are now (drew 1-1 with Tusker). This team is capable of taking on the best in the league – as you can see. We are competitive and we are ambitious.”

Kakamega Homeboyz coach Mike Mururi: “We had many scoring chances especially in the first half that had we put away would have long settled the match (drew 1-1 with Mathare United). There were two instances when we had a one-on-one with the Mathare goalie but couldn’t take advantage of that. But we will accept the one point.”

Mathare United coach Francis Kimanzi: “Getting a draw away is not bad (drew 1-1 with Kakamega Homeboyz). We just hope to perform better in our next fixture and start winning.”

Ulinzi Stars coach Benjamin Nyangweso: “We made two big blunders that translated to two goals within of six minutes and this made all the difference (lost 2-1 to Nzoia Sugar). It isn’t that Nzoia were better than us, rather they took every use of the chances they got.”

Nzoia Sugar coach Bernard Mwalala: “This win is a morale booster to us because we have been struggling in the latter stages of the first leg of the league (beat Ulinzi Stars 2-1). And to defeat a big team like Ulinzi makes this victory extra sweet. We will be celebrating it before we get back to business.”