FKFPL: Stuttering Homeboyz blow chance to go top after loss to Mathare United
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Reading Time: 6min | Sat. 15.11.25. | 18:31
A victory would have lifted Abana Beingo to 18 points and placed them temporarily at the summit
Kakamega Homeboyz’ return to Kasarani Stadium after nearly two years turned bitter after they fell 2-0 to Mathare United, blowing their chance to go top of the FKF Premier League table.
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The Saturday, 15 November clash was settled by an Eugene Ochieng own goal and a well-taken header from Donald Ange, handing the Slum Boys a much-needed win.
Homeboyz entered the match just one point behind leaders Gor Mahia, who sat on 16 points.
A victory would have lifted Abana Beingo to 18 points and placed them temporarily at the summit.
However, Mathare, searching for their third win of the campaign and desperate to halt a three-game winless run, had other ideas.
Before the match, they had suffered back-to-back defeats to Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards before salvaging a draw against APS Bomet.
Match Report
The win lifts pressure off head coach John Kamau, pushing the 2008 champions up to 11th on 11 points after nine matches. Kakamega Homeboyz remain second on 15 points and will surely blame themselves for missed chances.
The first chance came inside the opening minute after Homeboyz defender Boniface Onyango was fouled, but Potiphar Odhiambo’s resulting free kick missed the target by a whisker.
Mathare captain Brian 'Rio' Ochieng had the Slum Boys’ only early look at goal in the fourth minute, but his effort veered off target.
Steve Kamari attempted to push them back into rhythm following up the ball, only for Moses Mudavadi to shut him down and win the ball back for Abana Beingo.
As the match settled, and as the sun slowly inched towards the horizon, the Slum Boys began to gain more balance in midfield, with their four-man unit guiding the centre of the park.
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Homeboyz almost drew first blood in the 10th minute when Henry Omollo and Josphat Lopaga broke into a two-versus-one against Fidel Castro Otieno.
The Mathare defender, however, stood tall and won the ball cleanly, forcing a corner.
Moments earlier, Mathare had surged forward on a poorly delivered corner, and a Kimari miss allowed Omollo to burst away on the counter.
He released former AFC Leopards striker Lopaga, who drove forward with Castro chasing him stride for stride.
Lopaga tried to square the ball to Omollo, now with only goalkeeper Kevin Ouru to beat, but Castro’s timely interception sent the ball out of play.
Three minutes later, Mathare nearly made an early change after Castro appeared to have overstretched while blocking Lopaga's cross.
Had that ball reached Omollo, Kakamega would likely have taken the lead.
Homeboyz came even closer in the 16th minute when Rodgers Ouma’s powerful shot rattled the crossbar twice, the woodwork denying him before the ball bounced back into play and was eventually cleared.
As the half wore on, it became evident that Patrick Odhiambo’s charges were relying heavily on long balls to hurt Mathare.
The Slum Boys, by contrast, tried to string passes together and build through short combinations whenever they got the ball under control.
By the half-hour mark, neither side had truly threatened the other’s defence, with the action concentrated in the midfield trenches.
The only meaningful attempt came in the 31st minute when Hillary Juma unleashed a long-range strike from outside the box, but his effort sailed harmlessly wide as goalkeeper Ouru watched.
Mathare’s best chance arrived in the 37th minute through Dennis Okoth.
The former Shabana FC forward cut inside past his marker, Boniface Onyango, before unleashing a left-footed attempt from the edge of the area that went inches wide, without Edwin Mukolwe scrambling.
With five minutes left before the break, Homeboyz camped in Mathare’s box and won three consecutive corners, though none troubled the 2008 Kenyan Premier League champions.
As referee Badir Yassin held the whistle between his lips, frustration was clear on the faces of the Homeboyz players after wasting several opportunities.
For Mathare, the halftime whistle was a timely relief; their frontline had been blunt, and a word with attackers Okoth and Donald Ange was much needed.
Second half
The second half began with early changes from both teams. Mathare withdrew Steve Kimari and Dennis Okoth, introducing Musa Masika and Paul Kinyanjui.
Homeboyz responded by resting Lopaga, who had endured a rough outing, for Kenya U20 forward Oliver Machaka.
The impact of Mathare’s changes were immediate; their previously blunt frontline suddenly sparked into life.
In the 53rd minute, Homeboyz’ hopes of going top were crushed when Mathare forced an own goal from Ochieng.
Building from a throw-in, captain Eli Asieche squared the ball to Masika, who surged forward before releasing the overlapping John Nyawir.
Nyawir controlled with speed and whipped in a delivery that deflected off Ochieng’s thigh and nestled in the net for the opener.
Stung, Homeboyz became aggressive in search of an equaliser, leading to Boniface “Kajos” Onyango going into the referee’s book for a foul on Fidel Castro.
By the hour mark, Mathare, now confident, pitched camp in Edwin Mukolwe’s area and won back-to-back corners.
The first almost caused trouble as Brian 'Rio' Ochieng’s header forced the Kakamega defence into a scramble.
Two minutes later, Homeboyz nearly turned the tide. A Kajos corner confused the Mathare backline, allowing Estone Esiye to recycle the ball, but the Slum Boys eventually dealt with the danger and earned a goal kick.
From that goal kick in the 64th minute, goalkeeper Kevin Ouru launched a long ball that found Ian Omondi.
He drove forward before switching play to Masika, who danced past his marker and squared to Nyawir. The former Gor Mahia man took a calm touch, lifted his head, and curled in a perfect cross that met the diving header of Donald Ange.
The Congolese forward steered it into the far corner to double Mathare’s advantage and finally end his goal drought that had stretched since the start of the season.
In celebration, Ange removed his shirt, earning himself a yellow card as the second Mathare player to go into the referee’s book.
Homeboyz reacted quickly, making a double change in the 70th minute, Ben Saul replaced captain Moses Mudavadi, while Derrick Otanga took Hillary Otieno’s place.
Mathare also made a change four minutes later, withdrawing captain Asieche for Peter Oudu.
The Homeboyz substitutions injected fresh energy into their forward line, suddenly keeping the Mathare defence busy.
Sensing the shift in momentum, Mathare dropped deeper and looked to hit on the counter.
One such counter in the 76th minute nearly saw Ange grab his second; Oudu released him clean through after a failed Kakamega attack.
With only Ochieng chasing him and a one-on-one opportunity against Mukolwe, Ange rushed his finish and struck the ball straight at the advancing goalkeeper.
Still chasing goals, Patrick Odhiambo introduced Samuel Odaro for Omollo, and the forward immediately attempted to spark Kakamega’s attack.
But every wave was met by a human barricade in yellow and green.
Mathare goalkeeper Ouru was later cautioned for time wasting after repeated warnings fell on deaf ears.
Homeboyz' attempts to get back into the game were thwarted and left rueing their missed chances in the opening half.
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