Bandari Battle To Slim SPL Victory Over Champions Gor

MOMBASA, Kenya- The 2018 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) runners up, Bandari FC, began the new season in style with a 2-1 victory over Gor Mahia FC at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa on Saturday afternoon.

William Wadri put the dockers ahead on the stroke of halftime before David King’atua made it 2-0 shortly after the restart.

Substitute Nicholas Kipkirui got a goal back for Gor in the 77th minute to give hope to the legion of K'Ogalo fans who were in attendance.

Rumoured to be taking over as the new permanent coach of the 17-time domestic league winners, Hassan Oktay was very active on the touchline dishing out instructions to his players.

Gor began the game well on an extremely hot day and strung a couple of good passes in the opponents half that led to an early corner in the  fifth minute for the visitors.

The referee waved away a penalty appeal from what looked like a handball by Fred Nkata in the area from the corner.

Sammy Onyango went close in the seventh with a thunderous right footed shot that went inches wide of the Bandari goal.

Gor got a free kick in a dangerous position in the 15th that Francis Kahata sent flying toward the goal but the 2018 Golden Glove Award winner, Farouk Shikhalo tapped it out for a corner.

Duncan Otewa of Bandari received the first yellow of the game in the 17th for a nasty challenge on new signing Shafiq Batambuze as both sides began to desperately search for an opening goal.

The referee reached into his pocket again in the 23rd, a second one for the hosts, this time defender Bernard Odhiambo going into the book after bringing down Francis Mustapha.

Gor picked up the pace in the 28th with a great move that ended with Kahata squaring for Ivorian striker Ephrem Guikan in the box but the latter lost his footing.

Hassan Abdullah caused problems for Gor in the midfield and his quick feet prompted Ernest Wendo to tackle him, receiving the third yellow card of the heated encounter.

In the 43rd, Mulumba sent a clearance down the field and striker Yema Mwama put Oluoch to the test again, pulling off yet another fine save.

At the stroke of halftime, Wadri’s header was too hot to handle for the Gor back line and it went into the top corner to give the hosts a precious 1-0 lead.

The second half began with as much enthusiasm as the first ended and Sammy Onyango went close with an overhead kick in the 47th but Shikhalo was alert.

Kahata came close a minute later but his left footed shot was pushed aside for a corner.

In the 50th, Mwama pounced on a weak back pass and was fouled by an oncoming Oluoch but King’atua was right behind him to tap the ball into an empty net to make it 2-0.

Both coaches made changes in the 54th minute as Nicholas Kipkirui replaced Mustapha for Gor and Wycliffe Ochomo came on for injured Yema Mwama.

A minute later, the Gor fans protested as Kahata was taken off and replaced by George “Blackberry” Odhiambo.

Shaban Kenga then replaced goalscorer King’atua as Bandari seemed to be seeking the chance to extend their advantage.

Final attempt

In the 68th minute, Shikhalo was saved by the offside flag as Kipkirui attempted to shoot the ball through an empty goal.

In the 69th, Batambuze sent a ball into the box looking for Kipkirui who’s header went wide of the goal.

Wilberforce Lugogo came off for Brian Otieno in the 75th and shortly after Kipkirui came close but his diving header went agonisingly over the bar.

Kipkirui got the K’Ogalo faithful on their feet in the 77th when he pounced on a loose ball to get a goal back for the champions.

A minute later, the former Zoo forward was at it again but his header from a Batambuze cross was cleared by Mulumba.

Fred Nkata was shown a yellow card with five minutes to go and Blackberry whipped it into the box but Guikan’s final attempt was cleared off the line.

Boniface Oluoch was next in the referees book after coming so far off his line to foul Kenga.

Five minutes were added by the fourth official as Gor desperately tried to search for an equaliser that would give them a point on opening day.

Substitute Ochomo was shown the sixth yellow card of the game in the third minute of added time.

Shikhalo came to the rescue in the final couple of minutes to deny Blackberry, getting injured in the process but it was too little too late for Gor as the referee blew for full time.