Kakamega Homeboyz' title hopes suffer yet another dent after draw with Bandari
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 22.03.26. | 16:33
The host had Oliver Majaka to thank as his strike saved them the shame of losing in front of home fans
Kakamega Homeboyz staged a spirited comeback to secure a 1-1 draw against visiting Bandari FC in a pulsating FKF Premier League encounter at Bukhungu Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Geoffrey Ojunga and Oliver Majaka ensured both sides settled for a share of the spoils, in a match defined by high attacking intent, and end-to-end action.
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With maximum points crucial for both teams, Homeboyz aiming to reignite their late title push and Bandari seeking to close in on the top five, the contest lived up to expectations from the opening whistle.
The hosts signaled early intent, with Henry Omollo coming close in the seventh minute after a well-crafted move involving Oliver Majaka and Shafik Batambuze, but his volley drifted wide.
Bandari responded swiftly, with Clifford Otieno unleashing a powerful strike in the 12th minute that narrowly missed the target.
The match continued to ebb and flow, with Majaka nearly breaking the deadlock moments later, his header inches wide off a teasing delivery from Batambuze.
Bandari remained equally threatening, and in the 18th minute, their persistence paid off.
A well-delivered cross from Abdallah Hassan found Geoffrey Ojunga, who rose highest to power home a header past Ibrahim Wanzala, handing the visitors a deserved lead.
Buoyed by the opener, Bandari continued to press, with Amza Moubarak coming close to doubling the advantage at the half-hour mark, but his long-range effort sailed wide.
Homeboyz, however, remained resilient.
Their persistence bore fruit in the 38th minute when Majaka capitalized on another precise delivery from Batambuze, calmly slotting past Alaine Ngeleka after Rodgers Ouma won the first ball.
The hosts nearly turned the game around before the break, with Boniface Onyango’s header from a Batambuze corner forcing a crucial save from Ngeleka as the teams headed into halftime level.
Upon resumption, Homeboyz emerged the brighter side, pushing aggressively for the lead.
Omollo came close shortly after the restart, embarking on a solo run that ended narrowly off target.
Bandari, however, remained dangerous on the counter. Rajab Omar squandered a golden opportunity just past the hour mark, heading wide from a pinpoint cross by Hassan.
Sharif Majabe and Brian Odera also came close for the visitors, but failed to find the finishing touch.
The hosts continued to pile pressure, with Glen Masava, Peter Thiong’o, and Potiphar Odhiambo all testing the Bandari defense in a frenetic final quarter.
Ngeleka stood firm, producing key saves to deny Homeboyz a late winner.
Despite sustained pressure from both sides in the closing stages, neither team could find the decisive breakthrough, as resolute defending ensured the contest ended in a stalemate.
The result sees Homeboyz climb to 39 points, maintaining their fourth-place position, while Bandari remain tenth with 34 points as the league campaign edges toward its decisive phase.