Mozzart Bet Cup: Bandari hand Githurai football lessons to cruise to Round of 32
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 08.02.26. | 15:31
The Dockers last won the title in 2019 under coach Bernard Mwalala
2019 Mozzart Bet Cup champions Bandari FC produced a dominant and assured display, brushing aside Githurai All Stars 3-0 to secure a place in the Round of 32.
The Round of 64 encounter was part of a double-header staged at the Police Sacco Stadium, with 2017 winners AFC Leopards taking on BB Bread in the second match of the day.
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Goals from Frank Ouya, William Wadri and Alfred Emoni Tanui sealed a comfortable victory for the Dockers, who went into the fixture determined to ignite their campaign as they seek to end a seven-year wait for their third domestic cup crown.
The contest kicked off in a cagey fashion, with both sides taking time to settle.
Bandari, however, showed early intent and fashioned the first clear opportunity six minutes into the match when Darius Msagha pounced on a loose ball following a defensive lapse by Githurai, only to blaze his effort wide.
The Mombasa-based outfit continued to knock on the door and went close again in the tenth minute.
Msagha turned provider this time, floating in a teasing delivery that was expertly brought down by Ouya, but the forward’s effort drifted off target.
Sustained pressure eventually paid as Bandari broke the deadlock midway through the half.
Ouya, who lifted the title with Nairobi United in 2025, latched onto a well-worked delivery from Wadri on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a fierce strike that left the Githurai goalkeeper with no chance.
Five minutes later, Wadri nearly doubled the lead after beating his markers with clever movement, but the Ugandan international failed to keep his effort down, blasting over the bar.
Bandari finally made their superiority count again six minutes before the half-hour mark.
Msagha burst past his markers down the flank before delivering a precise cut-back that split the Githurai defence, allowing Wadri to tap home from close range to make it 2-0.
Githurai All Stars threatened a response shortly after when David Ng’ang’a pounced on a loose ball just outside the 18-yard box, but his effort narrowly missed the upright.
Bandari remained firmly in control and almost stretched their advantage five minutes later through Bertrand Konfor, whose powerful strike was expertly parried away by the Githurai goalkeeper.
Five minutes before the break, Said Tsuma came agonisingly close to adding a third after meeting Geoffrey Ojunga’s delivery, firing inches wide with the goalkeeper beaten.
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Moments later, Ouya rattled the upright with a well-taken effort as Bandari went into the interval holding a comfortable two-goal cushion.
The second half resumed on a more balanced note, though Bandari continued to pose the greater threat.
Three minutes before the hour mark, defender Andrew Juma rose highest to meet Tsuma’s well-delivered ball, but his thumping header narrowly missed the target from close range.
Githurai nearly pulled one back five minutes later when Kennan struck a loosely cleared ball, only to see his effort drift wide off the near post.
Bandari responded with another chance of their own through Erickson Mulu, whose marauding run from right-back ended with a shot that skimmed just wide.
With 15 minutes remaining, Githurai came close again through Siraj Ahmed, who met Steve Kamiri’s delivery but overhit his effort, watching it sail inches past the post.
Bandari finally put the contest beyond doubt nine minutes from time.
A swift counter-attack down the right flank saw Hamisi Mwaphalu thread a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Tanui, who calmly slotted home the third to cap off an impressive team performance.
Despite late pressure from Githurai All Stars, Bandari remained composed to see out the match and confirm their progression to the round of 32, sending a clear message of intent as they continue their quest for Mozzart Bet Cup glory.
