Bandari FC’s much-anticipated return to the newly refurbished Mbaraki Stadium ended in disappointment as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Shabana FC in a Kenyan Premier League clash on Sunday.
The match was off to a dramatic start as Shabana took the lead just 30 seconds into the game. Brian Michira Migiro capitalized on a defensive error by the hosts to put Shabana ahead early, sending the away fans into ecstasy. With the early goal, Shabana dominated the opening stages of the match, while Bandari struggled to find their rhythm.
Despite the early setback, Bandari began to settle into the game as the first half progressed and worked tirelessly to break down the Shabana defense, but goalkeeper Maxwell Mulili was in excellent form, denying them on several occasions with brilliant saves.
The Dockers came out stronger after the break and were rewarded for their persistence in the 70th minute. A well-timed exchange of passes between Siraj Mohamed and Joseph Otieno Onyango saw Onyango slot home the equalizer, bringing the match back to level terms.
Both teams fought hard in the remaining minutes, but neither side could find the decisive goal, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
For Bandari, the result extends their winless streak to six matches, with two losses and four draws. The draw sees them drop to 7th position on the table, 10 points behind league leaders Tusker FC and only six points above the relegation zone.
Shabana, on the other hand, remains in 6th position with six wins, six draws, and five losses.
As the season progresses, Bandari will need to find a way to break their poor run of form if they are to stay competitive, while Shabana will be content with their solid performance and steady position in the table as they look into moving up the table.
