Bandari slip in title race as Police gun down Rangers

Bandari FC players during FKF Premier League match with Tusker FC at Ruaraka grounds on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Bandari have been dealt a huge blow in their attempt to challenge for the FKF Premier League title alongside Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz after they were held to a 0-0 draw by nine-man Ulinzi Stars on Saturday at the Green Stadium in Kericho County.

The dockers trailed four-points (53) behind joint leaders Tusker and Homeboyz (57 points each) heading into the match and they need a win to close the gap but the soldiers had other ideas.

Anthony Kimani’s charges who were on a five-match winning streak could not even break through a thin-Ulinzi defensive line after they finished with nine men.

The Soldiers had to finish off the game with nine men after Benard Ongoma and Brian Birgen were sent off by center referee Lucas Odhiambo towards the end of the second half.

Ongoma received his marching orders for a second bookable offense before Birgen was shown a straight red card moments later.

Bandari needed three points in the game to keep their mathematical hope of clinching their first-ever title alive.

However, after the draw, their chances are now hanging by a thread mathematically with two matches left to play.

At the Kasarani Annex, Kenya Police made it two wins in a row after coming from a goal down to see off Posta Rangers 2-1.

Patrick Otieno scored in the 35th minute to give Rangers a narrow 1-0 halftime lead before former Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards winger Clifton Miheso scored a second half brace to lead Police to victory.

Police ended their seven-match winless streak last weekend after their 1-0 win over Bidco United.