Bandari must win the league opener by all costs-Michael Wanyika

Bandari skipper Michael Wanyika has called on his teammates to take maximum advantage of home comfort and get their 2022-2023 campaign on a positive note.

The dockers are scheduled to host the 2009 league champions Sofapaka in the opening round of the season at Mbaraki Stadium, next weekend according to the fixtures released on Friday.

Wanyika who was named the team's skipper two months ago replacing Bernard Odhiambo revealed that the club had resolved to make their backyard a fortress and will start proving it against Sofapaka.

Bandari also confirmed Kenyan internationals Andrew Juma and Abdallah Hassan as the club's first and second assistant captains respectively.

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The custodian who joined Bandari in 2019 from Kakamega Homeboyz said winning home matches was a key ingredient for the title success and urged his colleagues to demonstrate it by putting the visiting Batoto Ba Mungu to the sword.

"We have to get it right from the start in order for us to have a successful campaign. We are starting in front of our home fans and this calls for making each and every chance count," he said.

The appointment of Wanyika as the Bandari captain saw the shot stopper become the third goalkeeper captain in the top flight after James Saruni and Humphrey Katasi who turn for Ulinzi Stars and Nzoia Sugar respectively.

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Wanyika who boasts of a handful of Harambee Stars call ups under his belt believes that he will be the first goalkeeper captain in recent times to toast the league crown.

"It's been a while since a goalkeeper captain led a team to winning the league. I believe I will achieve it at the end of the season as well as return to the national team," he added.