Ken Owino was over the moon securing a morale boosting win for AFC Leopards against his former club Posta Rangers ahead of this weekend’s Mashemeji Derby.

The defender, who joined Leopards in February, rose high to head home Brian Wanyama’s corner kick against the mailmen in Match Day 25 in Machakos on Sunday.

This is the type of performance head coach Tomas Trucha needed after a two-game winless run in the FKF Premier League.

Trucha made a few changes in his lineup handing debut to Gideon Were with Brian Wanyama and Owen Mboya making their first starts of the season. Victor Omune missed out due to illness while Mousa Oundo and Kayci Odhiambo were out injured.

“It was a tough match against Posta Rangers but I’m impressed with how everyone carried himself on the pitch. We knew the surface would not be good so we worked on our offensive setpieces and it paid off. That’s an important win for us ahead of the Mashemeji Derby, ” said Owino.

“I never expected to score against my former team, but when the opportunity came, I had to make good use of it and open my goals account in the den. We made a promise to our fans and we lived upto it. We are hoping to continue with the same momentum until the end of the season.

About the upcoming Mashemeji Derby against Gor Mahia, Owino, who has so far scored three goals in the league this season said: “We have the Derby on Sunday ,and you know it’s the biggest game on the land. Preparations started immediately after the Posta Rangers game. Once again, we urge all our fans to come and rally behind the team. We will give a good account of ourselves. I can’t wait for my Mashemeji Derby debut.”

TEAM

Levis Opiyo, Randy Bakari, Vincent Mahiga, Kennedy Owino, Gideon Were, Bonface Munyendo ( ), Brian Wanyama (90′) , Luke Namanda (62) , Clifford Miheso (80′) , Owen Mboya (62′ ) , Brian Yakhama 80′)

Subs
Maxwell Muchesia, Humphrey Katasi, Aziz Okaka, Washingtone Munene, Kevin Kimani (90′), Victor Otieno, Jaffari Owiti (62′) , Hassan Beja (62′), Maxwell Otieno (80′), Arthur Gitego (80′), Kelly Madada

The Derby has been rescheduled from April 20 to April 21 at Nyayo National Stadium.