FKFPL Wrap: Nine-man Sofapaka hold APS Bomet as Tusker silence Mara Sugar
Reading Time: 5min | Sat. 29.11.25. | 18:36
Meanwhile at Awendo Green Stadium, Tusker ended their two-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over Mara Sugar
APS Bomet wrapped up a long week in Nairobi with four points out of a possible six after playing out to a barren draw against Sofapaka at the Dandora Stadium on Saturday, 29 November.
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Bomet had kicked off the week in style, stunning record FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia 4–1 on Tuesday, before receiving an Ksh11 million sponsorship boost from betting firm Mozzart Bet on Thursday.
Coming into the Sofapaka encounter, Benedict Wanjala’s men knew that a win would have lifted them out of the relegation zone.
They will, however, take solace in the draw, which moves them to within a point of safety.
For Batoto ba Mungu, the stalemate ends a run of two straight defeats and lifts them to 11th place on 12 points.
Match Report
The first half at Dandora kicked off with long balls dominating the early exchanges, a clear signal of what the crowd would be treated to for the next 90 minutes.
Iddris Shaib and Joseph Kuloba were the early culprits for Sofapaka, their clearances repeatedly landing in the waiting gloves of Bomet goalkeeper Bob Cetric.
As the match settled, more light-blue shirts took charge in midfield, with Sofapaka pulling the strings and forcing the Bomet duo of Philip Wasai and Francis Oduor to chase shadows.
By the 15-minute mark, Ezekiel Akwana’s Sofapaka had begun to threaten the Bomet final third.
However, nothing meaningful came from their early pressure, and soon the tide turned, with Sofapaka finding themselves on the back foot.
Antony Naibei almost drew first blood for Bomet in the 18th minute; his shot squeezed through a forest of legs but drifted narrowly wide of goalkeeper Edwin Olak.
Just seconds later, the lively Douglas Kibet Koech failed to convert a precise delivery from Kuloba with only Cetric to beat.
Despite dominating possession and controlling nearly every blade of grass, Sofapaka struggled to break down Bomet’s disciplined barricade.
In-form forward Hansel Ochieng nearly broke Batoto ba Mungu's hearts in the 24th minute when he ghosted into the box for what looked like a simple tap-in, only for Olak to bravely sweep the ball off his feet before Stephen Bonney hacked it clear.
Every time Bomet ventured forward, Lawrence Kibet looked dangerous, but Sofapaka’s defense handled him with composure, the same way Chris Wilunda kept Kibet tightly pocketed whenever Sofapaka attacked down the flanks.
APS Bomet fans had a moment of panic at the half-hour mark when Daniel Ng’ang’a almost gave Sofapaka the lead.
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Kuloba whipped in a cross from the left, finding Koech, but Cetric charged out and punched the ball back into play.
It fell kindly to Ng’ang’a, who fired towards an empty net with Cetric stranded on the ground.
But just when the ball seemed destined to hit the back of the net, Edward Masembe reacted brilliantly, scooping it off the line and deflecting it out for a corner.
Only minutes later, in the 38th minute, Masembe almost turned villain when a sloppy touch gifted Ng’ang’a another chance.
Cetric came to Bomet’s rescue this time, stretching fully to tip the ball out for another Sofapaka corner.
The half closed with the same familiar script of Sofapaka dominating play but failing to produce the final pass or clinical edge needed to break Bomet’s resistance.
Bomet, meanwhile, found comfort in their improvised counterattacks and lived to fight another half.
Second Half
The second half, however, started in the worst possible fashion for coach Akwana.
Barely two minutes after the restart, key midfielder Japheth Mzungu received his marching orders for misconduct.
The former Shabana man tussled for the ball with Bomet’s Wilunda and, after losing the challenge, held onto the ball as Wilunda attempted to take a quick throw-in.
A scuffle followed, and Mzungu reacted by throwing the ball at Wilunda, prompting referee Silas Moti to brandish a straight red card.
The dismissal forced Batoto ba Mungu into urgent tactical adjustments.
With the numerical advantage, APS Bomet grew in confidence and began stretching Sofapaka’s shorthanded midfield.
In the 62nd minute, Shaibu produced a vital interception to block a goal-bound effort from Naibei after Rodgers Kipkemoi had sliced through the Sofapaka backline.
The resulting corner posed no danger to goalkeeper Olak.
Coach Wanjala responded with two substitutions, bringing on Duncan Mogasa and Brian Ngala for Kibet Lawrence and Kipkemoi.
The changes injected life into Bomet’s midfield, which had been second-best in the opening half.
Bomet’s forwards now received a steady supply of balls but still could not trouble the disciplined, man-down Sofapaka backline.
Akwana, showing no panic, sought more firepower.
In the 69th minute, he introduced Jamaine Khamatu and Stanley Lugalia for Kuloba and Alvin Oloo.
Neither side, however, produced a decisive moment, with both teams increasingly relying on the flanks to spark quick attacks.
Deep into the half, Bomet made further changes, handing Festus Kipkemoi and Evans Kipkemoi minutes to add more punch upfront.
Even then, the match retained its balanced feel.
Sofapaka suffered another blow in stoppage time when Shaibu was sent off for a second yellow card after handling the ball, reducing them to nine men.
The resulting free kick from Masembe flew inches wide of the post, the final action before Moti’s full-time whistle.
As the referee signalled the end, it was Sofapaka who earned applause from the stands for battling through more than 45 minutes with a man down and finishing the game with nine.
Mara Sugar 0-1 Tusker
Meanwhile, at Awendo Green Stadium, Tusker ended their two-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over Mara Sugar FC.
Thomas Omole netted the only goal of the match in the 15th minute to hand the Brewers a much-needed victory.
The result eases pressure on coach Charles Okere and lifts Tusker to fourth on the log with 15 points.
Mara Sugar, on the other hand, remains 14th on 11 points.
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