Kakamega Homeboyz, Mara Sugar begin season with stalemate
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 27.09.25. | 16:21
For Homeboyz, the fixture carried extra weight with memories still lingering from last year’s bruising 3-0 defeat in the same venue on the opening day
Mara Sugar FC and Kakamega Homeboyz kicked off their 2025/26 FKF Premier League campaigns with a goalless draw at Awendo Green Stadium, in a contest that was fiercely fought but ultimately without maximum rewards for either side.
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Both teams, meeting for the second successive season in the top flight, entered the clash determined to set the tone for their campaigns.
For Homeboyz, the fixture carried extra weight with memories still lingering from last year’s bruising 3-0 defeat in the same venue on the opening day.
With that sting in mind, Patrick Odhiambo’s charges came out with intent, while Mara looked to establish their authority in front of a lively home crowd.
Homeboyz threatened first inside five minutes when John Omondi was fouled on the edge of the box. From the ensuing set-piece, Boniface Onyango’s floated delivery forced goalkeeper Evans Ochieng into a nervous clearance, though the resulting corner came to nothing.
Seven minutes later, new signing Josphat Lopaga nearly announced himself in style. The former Dynamo Brest forward latched onto Estone Omengo’s lofted pass, shrugged off his marker, and unleashed a powerful drive that rattled the side netting with the goalkeeper beaten.
Hillary Juma and Glen Masava also came close in quick succession, their attempts keeping Mara’s backline on high alert.
For all of Homeboyz’s dominance in the opening exchanges, Mara Sugar reminded them of their own threat midway through the half.
Former Homeboyz man Norbert Onyango weaved into the visitors’ box only to produce a tame effort comfortably gathered by keeper Edwin Mukolwe.
Moments later, Harun Thomas engineered perhaps Mara’s best opportunity of the half, his teasing cross begging to be tapped in, but striker Michael Isabwa could only watch the ball roll agonizingly wide.
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Both teams went into the interval tied, with Mudavadi seeing a late effort for Homeboyz sail narrowly wide after seizing on a defensive lapse.
The second half resumed at full throttle, Mara immediately surging forward in search of a breakthrough.
Timothy Ndayala forced Boniface Onyango into a crucial block, while Homeboyz responded through Moses Mudavadi, whose header from a Faruk Musisi long throw was heroically cleared off the line by Thomas.
The tempo grew as the minutes ticked by. Mara’s Ochieng went close with a glancing header, while Oliver Machaka saw his towering effort from the left flank delivery miss the mark by inches.
With time running out, Odhiambo threw on Derrick Otanga and Rodgers Ouma to sharpen his attack, but despite Homeboyz piling on late pressure, Mara’s rearguard held firm to secure a point.
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