- Bandari FC coach Bernard Mwalala has explained the tactical lapse that led to his side’s 1–0 away defeat to his former employers, Shabana FC.
- While Mwalala accepted the loss, he also lamented what he termed an undeserved and controversial penalty that ultimately decided the match.
- He further explained that his players lost control and composure after conceding from the penalty spot.
Bandari FC coach Bernard Mwalala has explained the tactical lapse that saw his side suffer a narrow 1–0 defeat away to his former employers, Shabana FC, on Sunday at Gusii Stadium.
Despite dominating much of the contest, especially in the second half, the Dockers conceded the only goal from a contentious penalty.
The referee awarded the spot-kick for an alleged handball inside the box during the first half, though the ball appeared to strike Clifford Otieno’s chest. Brian Michira, who was involved in the build-up, stepped up and converted, securing all three points for the hosts.
Bandari FC coach Bernard Mwalala laments refereeing decision
Speaking to Azam TV after the match, Mwalala acknowledged the game was evenly matched but lamented the officiating decision, stating he never anticipated losing in such a manner.
I think both sides had a similar approach and identical tactics and whoever took their chance well would claim the victory. Shabana managed to get one fortunate opportunity and they punished us with it.
At one point, I knew I might leave here with a defeat, but I wasn’t prepared to lose in that way with a referee’s call that gave a clearly undeserved penalty.
No player handled the ball in the box, and the official didn’t have a clear view to make that decision. That moment haunted us in terms of the result and the standings. I’d say it was simply a lucky day for Shabana.”
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Mwalala, who left Shabana three weeks ago to take charge of the coastal outfit, was leading his fifth match since his appointment.
Coming into this encounter with three wins and a draw, he was eyeing a fourth victory, but his former club -where he once served as assistant coach, handed him his first loss.
Mwalala explains how loss of concentration after penalty proved costly
The coach attributed the defeat to his players losing concentration after conceding, something he admitted he didn’t expect from his side.
Overall, the match was 50/50. They(Shabana) defended well, particularly in the second half. Where we went wrong in the first half was that my players lost their composure something I had not anticipated.
After conceding, they dropped back and let the opponents dominate. But in the second half, we managed to get back into the game only that we just could not convert the chances we created.”
Bandari’s eight-match unbeaten run has now ended, and this fourth loss of the season leaves them ninth in the SportPesa League table with 27 points after 19 rounds.
“This was a tough away match. I had warned the players that in these kinds of games, we need to stay calm and composed to play our football. So now, we’ll focus on helping the players mentally reset during difficult moments in a match. Today we lacked midfield creativity, but that’s something we will address before our next game,” Mwalala reiterated.
The team now heads back to Mombasa to regroup before hosting a surging AFC Leopards on the 14th, following a one-week break in the league for the FKF Cup.