Bandari coach Mwalala laments costly calls, lost focus in Shabana defeat

Bandari FC head coach Bernard Mwalala cut a frustrated figure after his side’s 1–0 away defeat to Shabana FC, blaming poor officiating decisions and a lapse in concentration for ending their impressive unbeaten run at the Gusii Stadium.

The FKF Premier League clash played on Sunday marked Mwalala’s first return to Gusii since leaving Shabana barely three weeks ago, and it proved a painful homecoming. A controversial 27th-minute penalty converted by Brian Michira separated the two sides in a contest the Bandari tactician felt was finely balanced.

Speaking after the match, Mwalala admitted the result was not what his team had hoped for, though he was relieved to come through the physical encounter without injuries. He felt both sides matched each other tactically and technically, insisting either team could have won had they taken their chances.

However, the Bandari coach was particularly aggrieved by the penalty decision that decided the match. He argued that the alleged handball inside the box was clearly misjudged, stating that his player was struck on the chest, not the arm.

“That decision changed the result and also affected the league standings. It is already clear that my player did not commit a handball offence,” Mwalala said, adding that while luck is part of football, such moments should be decided correctly.

Beyond the officiating, Mwalala turned a critical eye inward, pointing to his players’ reaction to adversity as a major factor in the defeat. He revealed that Bandari lost their composure in the first half after feeling decisions were going against them, a reaction that took them out of the game.

“When you lose your head, you lose the match. We failed to distribute the balls from the midfield, and that was among the things that cost us,” he noted.

The loss brought to an end Bandari’s four-match unbeaten run under Mwalala, who had overseen three wins and a draw since taking charge in early January. Despite the setback, the Dockers remain at position nine on 27 points after 19 matches.

For Shabana, the win lifted them to 31 points and into the top three.