Mwalala keeps faith in Bandari’s title chances despite rut in form

Bandari FC head coach Bernard Mwalala is bullish his charges have what it takes to sustain a title race.

The dockers moved up to second place in the Kenya Premier League table after a barren draw over struggling Chemelil Sugar at Chemelil Complex on Saturday .

It leaves the coastal based side level on 33 points with league leaders Sofapaka with the two sides separated on goal difference but the tactician remains upbeat of his charges title chances.

Gor Mahia, placed third on the grid on 32 points, have three games in hand and could topple the duo should they garner maximum points from these matches.

“We are still in the title race. We are still on track as you can see we are joint top with Sofapaka right now. We have three matches at home now where we don’t want to give away any points.Our opponents have utilized their home advantage to take points from us, now i’ts our turn starting Wednesday against Kakamega Homeboyz,”  a defiant Mwalala told Citizen Digital.

Mwalala insists there is no reason why Bandari cannot keep the pace at the top till June when the league ends.

Notably, Bandari have struggled with injuries this term — their league top scorer Wycliffe Ochomo, left back Fred Nkata and David King’atua — all in the treatment room.

It will take some effort though for Bandari to claim their maiden KPL title given the fact that they have failed to win any of their last four league assignments, losing twice consecutively.

The Kakamega clash will not feature first choice forward Yema Mwana who is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card in the Chemelil draw.

On missing Yema, Mwalala said, “Now it becomes even more more difficult. He is a player definitely we are going to miss but we have other options.”

The former Nzoia Sugar coach hinted at plunging again in the transfer market to strengthen his side after capturing the signature of Nigerian Alex Orotomal who is expected to lead the attacking line on Wednesday for Homeboyz visit.

Bandari will go top of the KPL table with a win on Wednesday.

Elsewhere,  Posta Rangers head coach John Kamau has called for a quick remedy to their abysmal run  if they’re to evade the relegation chop.

Rangers fell to a 1-0 loss to KCB at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, their 10th  defeat of the campaign and John Kamau who is in his third month at the helm, says things must change if they are to retain their slot in the top-tier league.

Rangers are 17th on the log on 16 points from 18 games.

Additional reporting By Julius Jumah