FOOTBALL: Kisumu referees to get uniforms, Bandari stun Gor Mahia in friendly

Erick Ochieng (left) of Gor Mahia FC battles for the ball with Shaban Kenga (right) of Bandari FC during a friendly soccer match played at the Mombasa City Stadium on January 24, 2015.[PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

All Kisumu County-based football referees will receive uniforms courtesy of Western Kenya Sports Association. According to the association's Chairman Bob Agwanda, this is aimed at not only motivating the whistlers, but is also geared towards enhancing the growth and development of refereeing standards in the region. "My association's vision is to be a renowned forum for sports promotion and management in Kenya and beyond, as well as promoting football and sports management besides the management of sports-related professional disciplines in Kenya through academic activities, research, publications, conferences and any other viable means," Agwanda said.-Gilbert Wandera

FOOTBALL: Bandari stun Gor Mahia in friendly

By Ernest Ndunda

Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia failed to tick in Mombasa after they were handed a 2-0 drubbing by Bandari in a friendly match at the Mombasa County Stadium on Saturday. Both teams tested the fitness of their new recruits during the match. Mohammed Farid put Bandari ahead in the 34th minute with a neat finish, beating advancing Gor Mahia’s custodian Jerry Onyango. Gor Mahia came back strongly and mounted pressure to pull for an equaliser but the Bandari defence stood firm. Bandari’s youngster Masoud Juma silenced Gor Mahia’s fans when he scored the second goal in the 63rd minute. -Ernest Ndunda

SOFAPAKA: Ouma happy with team's progress

Sofapaka assistant coach David Ouma says he is happy that the team has picked up well in training, with less than one month before their Confederations Cup match. Ouma said the players have not been affected by a long lay-off. The team has been training for the last two weeks under Ouma. Head coach Sam Timbe joined the team on Thursday. ". The players are responding well to training and we have not seen any effect on their fitness level after the long holiday," he said.