Mudavadi: No cause for alarm despite false start

Mozzart Bet Cup champions Kakamega Homeboyz took a shock 1-0 loss to FKF PL newbies Murang’a Seal on Sunday at the St Sebastian Park.

The first of their 2023/24 campaign having missed match day one due to continental duty, Abana Beingo believe it to only be a false start.

Captain Moses Mudavadi admits that even as it may have reflected negatively on the team’s now-immense reputation, the loss is not indicative of how the season will turn out for the Kakamega-based side.

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“It’s just the first match of the season, not impressive but we have 33 more matches to fight for. It just wasn’t our day and we were caught off guard in the closing stages of the match,” said the longest-serving player in coach Patrick Odhiambo’s squad.

Perhaps the team’s recent continental double-header against Al Hilal Benghazi might have taken a toll on the unit. Losing 4-1 to the Libyans on 27 August in their return clash of the CAF Confederation Cup, Homeboyz jetted back in the country and went straight to work.

Mudavadi says such a fixture can cause fatigue.

“We had two big matches back-to-back against Al Hilal, a respectable team and we were in for a tough contest. We matched them well at home, but unfortunately did not score. They took advantage of this in the return leg and took us apart.

Upon returning, the league had already begun and we had another long trip to Murang'a, who I admit gave us a good game. I’m confident we will get better,” adds Mudavadi who led the team against the Seals.

There is an international break that he feels the team will use to recover. With only one player from the squad called up, Moses Shume, huge rest follows.

“It’s an opportunity that we will take to recuperate. We’ve had a busy pre-season, FKF Shield Cup and CAF matches,” he concludes.

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Upon league resumption, a huge contest awaits Homeboyz as arch-rivals Tusker FC make their way to Bukhungu on Saturday 16 September.

Their last meeting at this venue ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors. Tusker have so far amassed 4 points from two matches.