Mozzart Bet Cup: Ruthless Police whip Sofapaka to storm into semis

Kenya Police dragged themselves closer to their first major title after thrashing Sofapaka 4-0 to sail to the Mozzart Bet Cup semifinals.

A left-footed strike by David Okoth in the 24th minute, coupled with Samuel Onyango's brace in the 55th and 69th minutes gave Police full control of the game staged at Dandora Stadium.

Second-half substitute Marvin Nabwire iced the cake for the law enforcers after kissing the back of the net deep into stoppage time.

After an initial twenty minutes of closely contested play, former Kakamega Homeboyz forward Okoth capitalized on a lapse in Batoto Ba Mungu’s defense, pouncing on a poor clearance by Rodgers Kipkemoi to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute.

South Sudanese striker Titus Okello missed an opportunity to double the advantage for just before halftime summing up what had been a frustrating afternoon for him as far as scoring was concerned.

On the other hand, Thomas Kakaire squandered a golden chance to equalize for Sofapaka after failing to force the ball into an empty net.

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In the 55th minute, Okello made amends for his earlier miss, setting up Onyango, who calmly slotted home from close range to double Salim Babu’s side's lead.

Okoth, who was awarded the man of the match, orchestrated the third goal by combining with Okello on the right flank, delivering a low cross that Onyango converted to complete his brace, extending Police's lead beyond Batoto Ba Mungu's grasp.

Police were dealt a blow when Okello picked an injury in the 84th minute, prompting club veteran Clinton Kinanga to take his place.

Kinanga made an immediate impact, setting up Nabwire for Police's fourth goal within minutes of his introduction.

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With this victory, Police are now in pursuit of a double, as they remain contenders for the FKLF Premier League title alongside Gor Mahia.

The tournament's ultimate prize offers the victor an opportunity to represent Kenya in the CAF Confederation Cup for the upcoming season, along with a lucrative cash reward.

The champion will receive Ksh 2 million, while the runners-up will earn Ksh 1 million. Teams finishing third and fourth will pocket Ksh 750,000 and Ksh 500,000, respectively.

Police will next challenge the victor of the match between the AFC Leopards and Compel SC, scheduled for Sunday.

Reflecting on their performance, Police head coach Babu expressed satisfaction, noting the team's replication of their training efforts. He praised Okoth's progress, highlighting his consistency over the past five matches. Looking ahead, Babu emphasized the team's focus on upcoming fixtures, expressing confidence in their chances to contend for the trophy, irrespective of the opponent.

“The way we played replicated what we have been doing in training sessions, I am happy for Okoth; he is improving in each game If you look at his last five games, he got a goal for us today. Now we focus on the upcoming games, regardless of the opponent, I believe we have a chance at the trophy,” offered Babu.

In contrast, Sofapaka head coach Zedekiah Otieno attributed the defeat to errors and missed opportunities from his players.