Bandari cool off Kasarani penalty heat as officiating row simmers

Bandari FC have moved to calm tensions following their heated clash with Gor Mahia, insisting the controversial scenes witnessed at Kasarani last weekend do not reflect the club’s values.

Head coach Bernard Mwalala admitted his players’ reaction to a disputed penalty decision was out of character, stressing that discipline and respect remain core principles at the club.

Mwalala revealed he personally stepped in during the incident to de-escalate the situation.

“Upon reviewing the match footage, it is evident that I was the first to step onto the pitch to guide the players away from confronting the referee, ensuring that the match could proceed regardless of the decision taken,” he said.

While acknowledging that emotions got the better of his side, the coach pointed to a series of contentious refereeing decisions in recent matches as a growing concern for the team.

These include disallowed goals, overturned penalties, and missed red card incidents that Bandari feel have gone against them at key moments this season.

“They include a disallowed goal against Shabana, a highly debated penalty incident in the same fixture, a potential denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) against Mara Sugar that did not result in a red card, as well as another disallowed goal in that match,” he noted.

“Additionally, we had a penalty decision overturned against Bidco, similar to the situation in the Gor Mahia fixture, and a goal-line incident against Kakamega Homeboyz where play was allowed to continue despite the ball appearing to have crossed the line,” he added.

Despite the frustrations, Mwalala maintained that the Kasarani incident was an isolated case.

“The reaction from my players… was uncharacteristic and does not reflect the values we uphold as a club,” he said.

Bandari FC reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism and respect for match officials as the season enters its decisive stage.

Attention now shifts to the final stretch of fixtures, with the coastal side targeting a top-five finish in the league while also mounting a strong challenge in the FKF Cup.