The inaugural weekend of the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season bore witness to three goalless draws and a meagre tally of seven goals across eight matches.
Out of the fray, only Tusker FC, newcomers Murang’a Seal, and Nzoia Sugar emerged victorious. Tusker FC secured a 1-0 win against Bandari FC in Mombasa, while Murang’a Seal marked their top-flight debut with a similar margin victory over fellow newcomers Shabana at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homabay.
Nzoia Sugar clinched a 2-1 victory against Ulinzi Stars in Bungoma. For Tusker FC, this victorious start to the season was a promising response to last term’s setback, losing the league title by just one point and the FKF Cup final to Kakamega Homeboyz.
Despite the departures of several seasoned first-team players last season, Tusker displayed newfound confidence with their considerably revamped squad. Bandari FC, who also underwent an overhaul with fresh signings, demonstrated potential but grappled with the challenges of team cohesion.
Nzoia Sugar, having lost a significant portion of last season’s fourth-place squad due to transfers, rallied and secured a pivotal win, undeterred by the absence of key players who moved on to other clubs.
Notably, Murang’a Seal claimed their first-ever top-flight victory by defeating fellow newcomers Shabana FC 1-0 in Homa Bay. Elsewhere, AFC Leopards played to a 0-0 draw against FC Talanta, while Gor Mahia recovered from a goal deficit to tie 1-1 with FC Sofapaka, courtesy of a late penalty by Benson Omalla.
While Gor Mahia’s opening match saw them drop points, coach Jonathan McKinstry remained optimistic, acknowledging the early-season challenges. “We are still in the process of reaching our full potential. Although the draw was a fair result, we were slightly disappointed not to secure a win in the final moments. We’re a team in development, and we’ll certainly progress,” McKinstry asserted.
FKF Premier League weekend results:
Bandari FC 0-1 Tusker FC
Nzoia Sugar 2-1 Ulinzi Stars
Shabana 0-1 Murang’a Seal
AFC Leopards 0-0 FC Talanta
Gor Mahia 1-1 Sofapaka
Nairobi City Stars 0-0 Muhoroni Youth
Posta Rangers 0-0 Bidco United
Kariobangi Sharks 0-0 Kenya Police FC
