Steady Rising Kariobangi Sharks All Set For Bandari SPL Grudge Match

15th February 2019

The match will be played tomorrow (Saturday) at the Kasarani Stadium from 3PM

Kariobangi Sharks FC players during a recent match. PHOTO/KariobangiSharks
Kariobangi Sharks FC players during a recent match. PHOTO/KariobangiSharks
SUMMARY
  • Following their rapid growth and commendable journey into becoming one of the forces to reckon with in the SportPesa Premier League (SPL), Kariobangi Sharks FC are all set for their round 14 clash against Bandari FC
  • The two sides last met on January 27 at the National Main Stadium in Dar Es Saalam, where Sharks edged the dockers 1-0 courtesy of a Harrison Mwendwa goal that saw them crowned 2019 SportPesa Cup champions
  • Having both played 12 matches in the 2018/19 season, second-place Bandari come into the match four points ahead of Sharks, who are in sixth place
  • Sharks come into the game buoyed by a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz FC at the Bukhungu Stadium in midweek, whilst Bernard Mwalala’s charges registered a comfortable 2-0 away win against Vihiga United FC

NAIROBI, Kenya- NAIROBI, Kenya - A repeat of the 2019 SportPesa Cup final is on the cards when Kariobangi Sharks FC host Bandari FC on Saturday at MISC, Kasarani.

Sharks prevailed 1-0 at the National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam last month (January 27) to lift the coveted trophy and earn the right to host English side Everton and the visiting Dockers have the chance to hit back in this SportPesa Premier League (SPL) highlight encounter.

Second-placed Bandari come in with a four-point and four-place advantage over Sharks on the log but that will count for less in the brewing rivarly between two of the most improved teams in the country.

“The beginning of the season has been good. We have something to show for the first half of the season after winning the SportPesa Cup.

READ ALSO: Bandari Beat Vihiga To Go Joint-Top, 10-Man Sharks Edge Homeboyz

“We have been playing well and we are in the top eight of the SPL. Was it not for some mistakes we made in a few matches, we would have closed the gap between the leaders and us but we have time to recover,” head coach William Muluya told SportPesa News.

The last time the teams met in the league, Bandari came out 3-0 winners at the Mbaraki Stadium with SportPesa Cup Most Valuable Player William Wadri bagging a brace and Joshua Oyoo with the icing on the cake in the dying moments of the game.

Prior to that, Sharks boasted three successive victories over Bandari with the most recent being a 1-0 league win courtesy of a well-taken Sven Yidah goal.

“Bandari are very tough opponents, they are the tied at the top and we must acknowledge that fact.

“The game will require maximum attention and I have no doubt that we can register a good result against them,” Muluya stated.

Sharks come into the game buoyed by a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz FC at the Bukhungu Stadium in midweek, whilst Bernard Mwalala’s charges registered a comfortable 2-0 away win against Vihiga United FC.

“The team is playing well and sometimes we might be getting slim wins but plenty of chances. We just need to work on finishing the chances we get and we can be sure of more goals going forward.

“We had many chances against Homeboyz but only managed to score once. For us to be able to maintain the standard we have set for ourselves, we must start to score more goals,” the 33-year old coach underlined.

READ ALSO: Bring On Gor! Sofapaka Coach Baraza Says After Mathare Thumping

 

With only four points separating the top six SPL teams, Gor Mahia FC’s quest to win an unprecedented 18th league title will not be easy and Muluya went on to state that it’s up for grabs for anyone in a good position at the moment.

“The league is very competitive and anyone in the top eight can win it. We need to focus and avoid dropping points if we are to remain as serious title contenders,” he underscored.

There is no lack of attacking talent in the Sharks squad and their recent thumping of 2010 champions Ulinzi Stars FC courtesy of a Sydney Lokale hat-trick, told a story of it’s own.

“It was an amazing feeling to score a hat-trick. That was the first time to score more than two goals in a game throughout my career and it has really motivated me.

“The target I set for myself was to score 28 goals in all competitions but since we were bundled out of the CAF competition, I have set my sights on 20 league goals,” Lokale offered.

The former Nakuru All-Star FC striker joined Sharks at the beginning of last season and started the year off remarkably with a goal in a 1-1 league draw away to Mt. Kenya United FC.

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Against 10-man Ulinzi on Febraury 7, the lanky forward who started in place of injured Duke Abuya, showed that he has lots to offer by putting on a sterling performance and bagging three goals for his efforts.

“I had one goal in the league and after that performance; it pushed me into the top five goal scorers so far this season.

“There is still plenty of time left for me to score more and hopefully win the Golden Boot Award.

Lokale’s four goals push him into joint-fifth on the top scorer standings which are led by Ulinzi Forward Enosh Ochieng’ (7) with Bandari forward Wycliffe Ochomo, Mathare United FC’s Cliff Nyakeya and Umaru Kasumba of Sofapaka FC all tied on five.

“Bandari are a good team and we have a good track record against them. I believe it will be an evenly contested game but we are going for a win,” Lokale concluded.