football
FKF-PL: Police gun down Sofapaka, as Bandari sinks Mathare
Hosts Kenya Police on Wednesday thumped former champions Sofapaka 3-0 at Police Sacco Stadium in Nairobi, to move fourth in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) standings.
In the other match of the day, hosts Bandari defeated relegation-threatened Mathare United by a similar margin at Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa.
Against the “Batoto ba Mungu”, who lifted the league title in 2009, attackers Marvin Nabwire and Francis Kahata scored on seven and 14 minutes respectively to give Police a healthy 2-0 lead at the break.
Clinton Kinaga sealed victory for Police with an 86th minute strike.
The coach Francis Baraza’s side went into the clash on the back of a barren draw against FC Talanta.
While the win took the law enforcers’ points tally to 53 from 29 matches, same to KCB, they dislodged the bankers from the fourth spot thanks to a superior goal difference.
Police have scored 15 more goals than KCB.
The loss left Sofapaka 12th with 34 points from 29 matches.
Nine-teen-time champions Gor Mahia tops the standings with 63 points from 29 matches while defending champions Tusker and Nzoia Sugar follow in that order with 61 and 57 points respectively from the same number of matches.
At Mbaraki Sports Club, Ugandan imports Umar Kasumba and William Wardi and Kenyan international Abdallah Hassan scored a goal apiece to give the Dockers victory of the 2008 champions. Kasumba opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, before Hassan doubled the host’s advantage in the 53rd minute. Wadri netted Bandari’s third goal.
The win extended Twahir Muhiddin’s unbeaten as Bandari’s interim coach since his appointment on May 1 following the sacking of Anthony “Modo” Kimani owing to a string of poor performance.
In his first match in charge, Bandari battled to a barren draw with KCB at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Annex on May 3. The Dockers thrashed bottom-placed Vihiga Bullets 7-2 at Mbaraki Sports Club last Sunday.
With 14 wins, five draws and 10 losses to their name, Bandari are sixth on the log with 47 points while the “Slum Boyz” 16th with 22 points. Out of 29 matches, Mathare have bagged maximum points in seven, drawn in one and lost in a massive 21.
Wednesday’ FKF-PL Results
Bandari 3 -0 Mathare United
Kenya Police 3- 0 Sofapaka