Kenya Police FC head coach Nicholas Muyoti has attributed his side’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Bandari FC to the poor playing surface at the Mbaraki Sports Club, insisting the condition of the pitch denied both teams the opportunity to play attractive football.
The law enforcers suffered heartbreak in Mombasa after conceding a late goal in the 70th minute, with Bandari FC capitalising on a set-piece situation.
A corner delivered by Darius Msagha found its way into the back of the net, proving to be the decisive moment in an otherwise tightly contested encounter.
ALSO READ: Muyoti admits players hungry for silverware, targets Gor in FKF Cup final
Kenya Police FC head coach Nicholas Muyoti blames poor pitch
Speaking after the match, Muyoti did not hide his frustration with the state of the pitch, saying it made it difficult for players to execute their game plans and express themselves creatively.
“The surface of the pitch could not allow us to play the kind of football we want or create chances the way we like. The playing surface was a big challenge,” Muyoti said.
The Police FC tactician stressed that football fans in Mombasa are accustomed to watching high-quality, free-flowing football, something that was lacking due to the conditions at Mbaraki.
“People in Mombasa love good football. Fans want to see the ball moving well and teams playing good football, but because of the pitch, both teams were unable to play the way we wanted,” he added.
ALSO READ: Blow as Bernard Mwalala ditches Shabana for Bandari mid-season
Muyoti went on to challenge Bandari FC’s sponsors, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), to invest in upgrading the facility, noting that the Dockers are among the biggest clubs in the country and deserve a home ground that matches their stature.
“Bandari is a big club in Kenya. KPA must work on this pitch and bring it to top standards, like the ones we have seen during CHAN,” Muyoti remarked.
Despite the disappointing result, the Police FC head coach remained upbeat about his team’s prospects, insisting that improved playing conditions would allow his side to show their true quality going forward.
“We did not create the chances we expected, but with a good playing surface in the next match, we will do the job we are supposed to do,” Muyoti concluded.
Bandari FC’s hard-fought victory further strengthened their impressive record since Coach Mwalala returned to the club after a difficult start to season with now back to back wins under his stewardship.