Year in Review: Bandari dare to dream after fiery 2018 season

Football in coastal region of Kenya just like in Nyanza or Western part of Kenya has a close affiliation that goes deeper than the physical aspect of sport.

It breeds an inherent, intrusive bond that few things in life can simulate, able to form an emotional attachment that goes further than kicking a ball into a net.

The year 2018, will go down in history books for Bandari FC after the coastal based side produced one of the most endearing fairytales in history to finish as runners up in Kenya Premier League standings- their best ever placement.

To put this achievement into context, before the start of this season the Dockers had finished tenth on the log with 43 points five points from the relegation zone.

Bandari began their 2017-2018 KPL preparations with a slightly quiet pre-season in Nairobi under the stewardship of Ken Odhiambo.

The latter started to build a different team, the base of the team was built by trusting the young crop of the players with the tactician giving them more playing time during the pre-season matches.

Early Season

Bandari did not start the season strongly and never looked like they would mount any title challenge against the likes of Gor Mahia and Sofapaka who started brightly with comprehensive wins.

Nevertheless, as the season gathered momentum, the team started to perform well collecting good results against big opponents and notably, Odhiambo had built a brick wall that made it no easy for opponents to break them down especially playing at their home turf Mbaraki Sports Club.

In fact, the coastal based side tasted defeat only once at their backyard falling to Tusker FC 2-1 in August 10.

Early July , Odhiambo quit the club ending his four year stay in the KPL to further his studies abroad in what he termed as “the hardest decision ever he had made” acknowledging the club’s efforts to convince him to stay.

Odhiambo, had only joined Bandari as assistant coach under Twahir Muhiddin on August 19  2014 after he was sacked at Harambee Stars where he had served under the same position.

Until his departure, Bandari was fifth on the log with 33 points after playing 21 matches and his last match was a 1-1 stalemate against Mathare United at Mbaraki on June 28.

Mwalala Effect

Few days after Odhiambo’s departure, Bernard Mwalala joined club barely a day after quitting league rivals Nzoia Sugar.

Mwalala enjoyed instant success at Bandari, instilling a winning mentality to the squad as they embarked on spectacular league run that included 15 wins in 19 matches. During that run they lose only one match.

Mwalala introduced a feel-good atmosphere in the dressing room, allowing players to express themselves freely and in so doing won them over.

“I thank the players because they are very sharp, they’ve understood my philosophy in a nick of moment that’s why you see the results,” Mwalala said in a past interview.

Bandari’s dismal start allowed Gor Mahia FC to pull clear early and despite their second leg success, the Dockers simply had insufficient time to cut back on the advantage but belief and ambition had grown.

One over the enemy

Such was the dominance of Gor over the rest of the league that they came so close to lifting the KPL trophy unbeaten. It was Bandari that ensured they wouldn’t.

Mwalala’s men won 2-1 at Mbaraki Stadium, dashing Gor’s hopes of a second invincible season in four years.

What next?

The resilience, hunger, team spirit and desire to win which was reinforced by Mwalala after taking charge will be expected in the upcoming season (2018-2019) and the expectations are now high with many hoping that they will end Gor’s dominance by winning the KPL at the end of the season.

It will be Mwalala’s first full season in charge and it all remains to be seen what the former Nzoia Sugar tactician can bring to the side after the their best ever season.