Gor Captain Shakava Slams Bandari For Time Wasting

9th December 2018

Developing bitter rivalry between the champions and last season's runners-up simmers following 1-2 defeat in 2018/19 opening SPL clash in Mombasa

SportPesa Premier League action between Gor Mahia FC (left) and Bandari FC at the Mbaraki Sports Club, Mombasa on Saturday, December 8, 2018. PHOTO/SPN
SportPesa Premier League action between Gor Mahia FC (left) and Bandari FC at the Mbaraki Sports Club, Mombasa on Saturday, December 8, 2018. PHOTO/SPN
SUMMARY
  • Cypriot Hassan Oktay who is being lined-up to succeed British two-time title winning head coach, Dylan Kerr at K’Ogalo travelled to the coastal city of Mombasa and watched the record 17 time winners come unstuck at Mbaraki Sports Club against the team that finished behind them last season
  • It was not lost that Kerr- now at South African side Black Leopards FC- accused the team affectionately known as Al Bandr of the same tactics when his then unbeaten side went down by the same score at the same venue in August
  • On two separate occasions, Shikhalo went down theatrically in the penalty area after what looked like soft challenges but stayed down for the medics to come in what appeared like a brazen attempt to run down the clock

MOMBASA, Kenya- The developing bitter rivalry between Gor Mahia FC and Bandari FC simmered further when the champions’ captain Harun Shakava accused the Dockers of gamesmanship during their 1-2 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) defeat on Saturday that got their title defence of to a dispiriting start.

Cypriot Hassan Oktay who is being lined-up to succeed British two-time title winning head coach, Dylan Kerr at K’Ogalo travelled to the coastal city of Mombasa and watched the record 17 time winners come unstuck at Mbaraki Sports Club against the team that finished behind them last season.

The loss which continued a wretched run in the SPL spanning from the tail end of last season gave Oktay a chastening insight into the job at hand in Gor’s quest to retain their crown for a third season in a row.

William Wadri and David Kingatua put the Dockers in control before new signing and former Zoo Kericho FC striker, Nicholas Kipkurui pulled one back for the champions but it was not enough to stem as second successive league defeat at Mbaraki.

The growing rift between K’Ogalo and Bandari boiled over when Shakava claimed the hosts once again resorted to the dark arts more so time wasting to force victory.

It was not lost that Kerr- now at South African side Black Leopards FC- accused the team affectionately known as Al Bandr of the same tactics when his then unbeaten side went down by the same score at the same venue in August.

“It’s unfortunate that we lost the match today (Saturday) but it’s even more disappointing that Bandari would do such a thing. 

Time wasting

“I think we played well especially in the second half, we just need to see what went wrong and improve. 

“Time wasting is not football. Instead of playing the game, they did their best to waste time so we couldn’t get an equaliser,” Shakava complained SportPesa News after the bruising contest. 

Bandari goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo made three great saves to keep his side in the lead but blotted his copybook later in the match as Gor struggled to level the contest.

On two separate occasions, Shikhalo went down theatrically in the penalty area after what looked like soft challenges but stayed down for the medics to come in what appeared like a brazen attempt to run down the clock. 

“It’s frustrating when your opponent tries to waste time during the game.  We accept the defeat and we will take it gracefully as we choose to focus on our next assignments,” Shakava added. 

Gor came off a dramatic 4-3 penalty win over Nyasa Big Bullets FC in their CAF Champions League preliminary round clash in Malawi before the weekend defeat in a testing run to their new campaign.

“We are going to regroup and take lessons from the loss. There are important games coming up locally and on the continental scene, so we have to focus on that,” the skipper underscored.

Oktay, who was also present as Gor laboured to a 1-0 victory over Nyasa in Nairobi last week in the first leg of their Champions League clash, is slated to take over from interim boss, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno.

His first task will be steering the club to hold on to their SPL crown but after a false start, the new man who is reportedly being offered a three-month probation now knows he is up against it.