By Robin Toskin

There was heartbreak for Coast fans as the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) ended with a disappointing 2-1 loss to Mathare United for their beloved team Bandari which meant they are out of the KPL.

Bandari did get a lifeline with a penalty, but when Bandari captain Abdulwahab Musa crushed his spot-kick on the crossbar at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, it was the end of the Coastal lads participation in the KPL and heading to the Nationwide League.

Bandari had their fate in their own hands as they only needed to avoid defeat and Red Berets who were playing Nairobi City Stars in Nakuru would not have caught up with them.

It was never to be as Red Berets did their part by beating City Stars 2-1 at Afraha Stadium.

It started well for Bandari as Anthony Dafaa had given them a lead in the first half before they conceded an equaliser in the dying minutes of the half via a Joseph Nyagah penalty.

Dafaa struck a sweet shot to the right of Duncan Ochieng in goal for Mathare after a poor clearance found him free on the 18th yard box.

Mathare were, however, back level after a goalmouth melee which led to a Bandari defender handling in the box and Nyagah dispatched the spotkick with little fuss.

After the breather, Bandari seemed keen on sitting on the point which would have ensured survival, but their goalkeeper Abdulrahman Ali had other ideas as a rush of blood saw him race out of his goal line but missed the ball and John Onami tucked it home.

Red Berets had got off the blocks the hungry side and danger man Joseph Asuza tested Sofapaka Wilson Oburu from 18 yards although without troubling the international goalkeeper.

Brian Masiola fizzed another effort inches wide before Sofapaka’s midfielders Evans Wandera, James Situma and Abdi Simba wrestled control from the paramilitary men.

Sofapaka’s bench was all nerves, but as it has often been their trusted lieutenants, Bob Mugalia, goalkeeper Wilson Oburu and Patrick ‘Petit’ Kagogo rose to the occasion.

Oburu saved a second penalty in a row and a second against the paramilitary side, a feat that helped Sofapaka take the game by the scruff of its neck.

Red Berets had done everything to stop Matano’s men.

But they were undone as the ball broke through the middle of the area and Baraza, so much of a predator, latched to the ball and held off Dickson Ojwang before burying the opener to the right of despairing Wycliffe Kasaya in Berets’ goal on 21 minutes.

Sofapaka were not done yet as they went for Berets’ jugular when Mugalia found Kagogo on the blind.

Goalkeeper Kasaya made a comic error Kagogo’s well struck attempt as the ball ricocheted off his chest to the waiting boot of Baraza, who finished with aplomb to overhaul Tusker’s Joseph Emeka from the top of goal scorers’ roster.

Red Berets attempted a comeback launching a series of attacks but Oburu did well to snuff them out.

First it was Gabriel Nduro who struck and Oburu punched it over and a minute later the Sofapaka goalkeeper had to scramble across his goal line to tip over a looping header.

They were belated attempts though and Sofapaka run down the clock to cap it with captain James Situma stepping up to lift the a maiden KPL trophy for the league’s new comers.