• FOOTBALL

• Frank Rotich 5 days ago

KCB back to winning ways as Bandari beat Bidco United in KPL action

KCB bounced back to winning ways with a narrow but important 1-0 victory over Mara Sugar in a tightly contested Kenyan Premier League match played at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.

The win ended KCB’s three-match winless run and lifted the Bankers to eighth place on the table with 37 points. Mara Sugar, despite a spirited performance, remained 12th with 30 points.

The match started cautiously, with both teams taking time to settle and avoiding early mistakes. KCB gradually grew into the game, using the wings effectively through Boniface Omondi and Kelvin Etemesi, who looked dangerous in attack.

Mara Sugar had their chances, with Timothy Ndayala coming close on several occasions, including a half-volley effort that went over the bar and another attempt that drifted wide. The visitors continued to threaten, especially from set pieces, but could not find the target.

KCB also created opportunities before the break, with Kelvin Etemesi and Francis Kahiro both trying their luck, but neither side managed to break the deadlock as the first half ended goalless.

After the restart, the tempo of the game slowed, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. However, the breakthrough finally came in the 72nd minute when Rowland Makati reacted quickly to a rebound and calmly slotted the ball into the net to give KCB the lead.

Mara Sugar pushed for an equaliser late in the game and nearly found it from a free kick in the 88th minute, but Lenkis Lenana’s effort sailed over the bar.

KCB held on to secure all three points and revive their campaign.

In another match, Bandari also returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Bidco United. William Wadri scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute, ending Bandari’s four-match winless streak and moving them up to seventh place with 37 points. Bidco United remained in the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, the match between Nairobi United and APS Bomet at Gusii Stadium was abandoned at halftime due to a waterlogged pitch, with the second half set to be replayed on Sunday.