Five talking points from the FKF Premier League MD24

Matchweek 24 of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League started on a sour note as we witnessed a dubious penalty decision against relegation-fighting Shabana and culminated in a showdown between two of the league’s most in-form teams as Tusker edged AFC Leopards.

In between record Kenyan champions saw their ten-point buffer at the top reduced after a difficult day in office down in Mombasa. Here are the talking points from the weekend action.

Bandari batter and banter Gor Mahia on and off the pitch

The final league match held at the Mbaraki Sports club this season ended in favor of hosts Bandari FC as they surprised league leaders Gor Mahia with a 1-0 victory.

The Bandari social media admin had a field day bantering their visitors before and after the game thanks to Fidel Origa who netted the only goal of the match just before halftime as K’Ogalo succumbed to only their second defeat of the season.

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The Dockers managed to maintain their lead throughout the match, avoiding a repeat of last season's defeat in both legs of this fixture.

The victory cut the gap at the top to seven points, with second-placed Tusker edging just ahead of John Baraza’s Bandari on goal difference.

Tusker win the battle of the in-form teams

Tusker made it four wins on the bounce and simultaneously ended AFC Leopards’ nine-game unbeaten run as the two most in-form sides squared out at the Machakos Stadium on Sunday.

Michael Oduor's corner kick took a wicked deflection off the Ingwe defenders and ended up being the decisive strike that earned victory for the Brewers who look like the only side most likely to pounce on any slip-ups from league leaders Gor Mahia.

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Leopards, beaten for the first time in 2024, were pushed to end – and beyond - by the sound of Isikuti but they were second best as Robert Matano showed once again why he’s arguably the best coach in the league.

Gone are the days when Matano's job security was questioned; now, conversations revolve around whether his team can maintain the pressure on Gor Mahia, whose defeat has reduced their lead at the top to seven points, with 30 points still available for the taking.

Scandalous refereeing costs Shabana

Relegation-threatened Shabana appeared poised for an improbable comeback against KCB, but they had given themselves too much work to do, falling three goals behind by the hour mark.

KCB went into this clash looking for their first win in eight matches and their course was given a helping hand by the referee.

The little touch on Derick Otanga from Vincent Nyabuto when defending a cross couldn’t have even hurt a fly but the referee somehow decided to award the hosts a penalty despite none of the Bankers players even appealing.

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Otanga capitalized on the opportunity, converting the first of his two goals in the match, flanked by Philemon Nyakwakwa's strike at the stroke of half-time.

The struggling visitors threatened a late rally through efforts from Brian Magare and an own goal by Farouk Shikalo but the damage had already been initiated courtesy of the scandalous penalty decision.

Police turn to Kinanga again to avoid humiliating defeat

It appears that when Kenya Police need to dig themselves out of a deep hole, they always turn to old boy Clinton Kinanga.

Just over a fortnight ago, the lanky forward came off the bench to head home the winner against Posta Rangers in the Cup competition.

And he was summoned off the bench over the weekend as the expensively assembled squad looked on the brink of suffering an embarrassing defeat against Muhoroni Youth.

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Like the disciplined force he is, Kinanga heeded the call of duty, grabbing the equalizer to secure his side the point.

The visiting Muhoroni struggled to keep the ball but they were very honest in their output and got their goal from their first attack as Duncan Otieno turned into his own net from a corner.

Police at times battered the visiting defence and when Kinanga drew them level with a quarter hour to go, it seemed like they would go on and claim the three points but it wasn’t to be, the result all but ending their feign title hopes.

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Sharks and Murang’a seal topflight places

Murang’a Seal and Kariobangi Sharks were among the biggest winners – quite literally for Sharks – this weekend as their slots in the 2024-25 Premier League season were all but secured.

Just four matchdays ago, Murang’a were having the worst form in the league, an 11-game winless run that had them in the relegation mix.

However, a 1-0 home victory over Bidco, a draw at KCB and the 1-2 win at Sofapaka has seen Seal break the 30-point mark, often considered the threshold for safety.

Also extricating themselves out of the relegation turmoil are Sharks who thumped Posta Rangers 5-1 – and it could have been more – at the Police Sacco Stadium.

Sharks are a joy to watch if you are a football purist but they have been struggling to convert their enviable style into wins. They did that against Posta who were left in sixes and sevens and could have conceded six or seven here. 

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