Police move up to third in KPL, Sofapaka’s relegation woes deepen

Reigning champions Police FC moved to third in the Kenya Premier League standings following a 1-0 win against Tusker at the Police Sacco Grounds in Nairobi on Friday.

Yves Koutima’s strike in the second half was all the law enforcers needed to see off Tusker.

The Burkinabe international was teed up by Abud Omar in the 63rd minute to score his eighth goal of the season for Police FC.

Police are now third with 43 points,13 adrift of leaders Gor Mahia and tied with Shabana in fourth but with a superior goal difference, while Tusker remain ninth on 37 points.

Elsewhere, Sofapaka’s relegation woes deepened following a goalless draw against Bandari FC at Kasarani Annex on Friday.

The draw leaves Sofapaka rooted at the bottom of the table 16 points, while Bandari stay seventh on 37 points.

Despite creating several promising chances, the bottom-placed side could not find the breakthrough, leaving them at the basement of the log with only seven games remaining in the season.

Sofapaka head coach Edward Manoah admitted his team had moments where they should have scored but lacked the finishing touch.

“I think today was a bit different to the Ulinzi game because in the Ulinzi game we played very well in the first half then collapsed in the second. I think we created a few chances, it was a game we would've gotten a goal,” said Manoah.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining the right attitude in their desperate fight against relegation.

“When your path is thin, with the right attitude you'll pass. For you to be creative you must have the right attitude. We are now depending on results from other games. It was important for us to win. I think we had a very big chance today.”

Bandari FC head coach Bernard Mwalala felt his side controlled large parts of the game and praised debutant defender Baraka Rodgers for an impressive first appearance.

“I think we were the better side first half, they were better in the second. Neither of us took their chances but I'm very happy also for Baraka Rodgers under 21, his debut he kept a clean sheet, good defending so he's an asset to the team,” said Mwalala.