FKF Premier League: Kenya Police gun down Bandari to move five points clear

Photo Credit - Kenya Police FC Media.

Kenya Police FC moved five points clear at the summit of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League table following a hard-earned 1-0 win against Bandari at Mbaraki Sports Club on Friday.

The law enforcers went into the game knowing a win would help them widen their lead, but they had to wait until the last minutes of stoppage time to score what turned out to be the winner.

Marvin Nabwire scored the all-important goal in the 89th minute to seal the crucial points for Police, who are chasing their first-ever league title. With only 15 minutes played, Police found the back of the net, but their effort was ruled out for offside.

Despite playing away, Police kept attacking the Dockers, but it was their goalkeeper Job Ochieng, who was forced to make a superb save in the 34th minute to deny Bandari. Before the second-half restart, Police made three changes, Clinton Kinanga, Francis Kahata and Eric Zakayo being withdrawn for David Irishura, Brian Musa and David Simiyu.

Police came close to breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute when Irishura found space inside Bandari’s danger zone, but his weak effort was not able to trouble goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo. The win helped Police to reach 58 points from 30 matches and strengthen their lead.

They are five points ahead of record champions Gor Mahia, whose chance to close the gap was postponed, following the cancellation of their eagerly-awaited Mashemeji derby against rivals AFC Leopards, that was scheduled for Sunday.

In another fixture, Shabana bounced back from their 1-0 defeat against Gor Mahia to beat KCB by a similar margin at Machakos Stadium. The Kisii-based Glamours Boys are fourth with 49 points from 30 matches. They have managed 13 wins, drawn 10 and lost seven.

The defeat left the Bankers seventh in the table with 41 points accumulated from 10 wins, 11 draws and nine defeats.