Gor Mahia–Nairobi United match abandoned as Tusker, Bandari claim narrow wins

Chaos marred the FKF Kenyan Premier League on Sunday after the highly anticipated clash between Gor Mahia and Nairobi United was abandoned midway through the second half at Dandora Stadium, forcing league officials to intervene.

The match was called off in the 58th minute with the score tied at 1-1 after crowd unrest erupted in the stands. According to match officials, objects were thrown onto the pitch, creating an unsafe environment for players and match officials.

Despite efforts by security personnel to restore order, the center referee made the decision to abandon the fixture in consultation with security officers.

The incident is expected to be reviewed by the FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee, which will determine the fate of the match and possible sanctions. The abandonment overshadowed what had been an evenly contested encounter.

Away from Nairobi, Tusker FC returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over APS Bomet at Kericho Green Stadium. The brewers, who were looking to bounce back from their previous defeat, showed resilience against a disciplined APS Bomet side.

Dennis Oguta proved to be the difference-maker, scoring the decisive goal to hand Tusker maximum points on the road. APS Bomet pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages but were unable to break down Tusker’s organised defence, as the visitors held firm to secure a crucial win in their title push.

At the Coast, Bandari FC finally ended their five-match winless run with a narrow 1-0 victory over Mathare United in a tense encounter played at Mbaraki Sports Ground in Mombasa.

The Dockers started cautiously but were tested early when Mathare midfielder Eli Esieche fired a powerful effort just wide of the target. Bandari responded in the 20th minute through Hamisi Mwaphalu, whose fierce shot forced Mathare goalkeeper Kevin Ouru into a fine save, resulting in a corner.

The breakthrough came five minutes later when Bandari were awarded a penalty after Amza Ndayou was fouled inside the area. Ndayou stepped up and calmly sent Ouru the wrong way to give the hosts the lead.

Mathare came close to equalising in the 38th minute when Paul Kinyanjui struck the outside of the post. Bandari, meanwhile, missed a chance to extend their advantage in stoppage time, with Ndayou failing to convert William Wadri’s dangerous cross.

Bandari carried their 1-0 lead into the break and continued to push forward in the second half. Abdalla Hassan nearly doubled the advantage ten minutes after the restart but headed wide from a well-delivered cross by Ndayou.

Mathare intensified the pressure late on, with striker Steve Kimari weaving past defenders before seeing his effort brush the side net. Bandari substitutes Naaman Balecho and David Sakwa also had opportunities to seal the contest but opted for game management as the match wore on.

The Dockers held on to claim a much-needed victory, easing pressure after a difficult run of results.

Bandari head coach Razak Siwa welcomed the win, describing it as a timely boost for his side.

“We hadn’t won in a long time. The players showed character and worked very hard for this result,” Siwa said.

Mathare United coach John Kamau was left frustrated by his team’s missed chances.

“It’s disappointing. We played well for long spells, but conceding a soft penalty and failing to take our chances cost us the match,” Kamau noted.

The weekend’s results left plenty for league officials to address, particularly the fallout from the abandoned fixture in Nairobi, as the FKF Premier League campaign continues to gather momentum.