Holders Sharks, Bandari Eyeing CAF Confed Cup Slot In SportPesa Shield Final

31st May 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

After months of the English FA Cup equivalent competition, from the initial 64 Kenyan clubs it all boils down to the last two in the highly anticipated final showdown

SUMMARY

All roads lead to the Kasarani Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) as Bandari FC embark on a revenge mission against Kariobangi Sharks FC in the SportPesa Shield final
Both sides will take to the field at 3pm in a repeat of the 2019 SportPesa Cup final in Dar es Saalam, Tanzania where Sharks edged the dockers 1-0 to clinch the trophy on their second attempt
KCB and Assad will curtain-raise the proceedings tomorrow as they battle it out in the third/fourth place playoff from 12pm at the same venue

NAIROBI, Kenya- All roads lead to the Kasarani Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) as Bandari FC embark on a revenge mission against Kariobangi Sharks FC in the SportPesa Shield final.

After months of the English FA Cup equivalent competition, from the initial 64 Kenyan clubs it all boils down to the last two in the highly anticipated final showdown.

Both sides will take to the field at 3pm in a repeat of the 2019 SportPesa Cup final in Dar es Saalam, Tanzania where Sharks edged the dockers 1-0 to clinch the trophy on their second attempt.

Bandari have proven to be a much better side than their opponents since the slim defeat as they battled to a second-place finish in the just concluded SportPesa Premier League (SPL).

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Meanwhile, holders Sharks could only manage an eighth-place finish, a staggering 19 points behind their opponents.

The handsome KShs 2 million winners cheque will be secondary for both teams as a chance to represent Kenya in the 2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup is on the line as well.

Sharks got the opportunity to feature in the continental club competition and began extremely well with a 9-1 aggregate thrashing of Djibouti club Arta Solar 7.

Their run in the tournament came to an unfortunate end on December 18, when they went down 2-0 away to Ghana’s Asante Kotoko FC.

William Muluya’s charges are making their third successive appearance in the cup final and are out to defend the title they won last year after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sofapaka FC.

Bandari come into the game on great form having not lost in their last 10 matches and will be more confident going up against Sharks who have lost thrice in as many games.

The dockers have won the domestic cup once before in 2015 and have been unsuccessful until now.

Both first choice goalkeepers will not be available for their particular teams as Farouk Shikalo and John Oyemba were named in the Harambee Stars AFCON squad that jetted out to France this (Friday) morning.

Sharks edged Kenya Commercial Bank FC (KCB) on May 12 courtesy of an own goal to book a place in this year’s final.

Earlier the same day, Bernard Mwalala’s Bandari made a resounding statement as they demolished fellow coastal side SS Assad FC 6-1 to confirm the Sharks final date.

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KCB and Assad will curtain-raise the proceedings tomorrow as they battle it out in the third/fourth place playoff from 12pm at the same venue.

Frank Ouna’s KCB have silenced most critics with an exemplary show throughout the season that saw them finish among the top 10 in their debut season back in the top flight.

The bankers are the favourites in tomorrow’s clash against lowly Assad and a third place finish in the domestic cup will be a major boost for the steady-rising club.

Ticket prices, meanwhile, have been set at a flat rate of KSHs 100.