Majaka, Koutiama shine as Homeboyz rally from behind to hold Police in season finale
.jpg)
Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 31.05.26. | 18:11
The two sides have endured inconsistencies in the season that concluded on Sunday
Kenya Police FC and Kakamega Homeboyz ended their 2025/26 FKF Premier League campaigns with an entertaining 1-1 draw at Police Sacco Stadium on Sunday, in a match that produced both goals within the opening four minutes.
A lively start saw Burkina Faso forward Yves Koutiama hand the hosts an early lead before Oliver Majaka responded almost immediately for Homeboyz, with neither side able to find the decisive breakthrough despite creating numerous chances throughout the contest.
Download our Mozzart Sport App for more news
Having endured a difficult title defence following a sluggish start to the season, Kenya Police entered the fixture determined to finish strongly and secure third place on the final standings.
Beyond pride, the Law Enforcers were also keen to fend off competition from Shabana FC for the lucrative third-place prize money worth Ksh 2 million.
For Kakamega Homeboyz, the encounter presented an opportunity to halt a disappointing seven-match winless run.
Patrick Odhiambo's side had fallen away from both the title race and contention for a top-three finish in recent weeks and were eager to end the campaign on a positive note.
With the reverse fixture having produced an entertaining 2-2 draw earlier in December last year, expectations were high for another competitive encounter and the two sides did not disappoint.
Police made their intentions clear almost immediately, taking the lead after just two minutes.
Brian Musa initiated the move with a precise pass from midfield that found Baraka Badi on the right flank.
Badi expertly beat his marker before delivering an inviting cross into the box, where Koutiama rose highest to power home a well-directed header.
The lead, however, lasted only two minutes.
Homeboyz responded in swift fashion through Majaka.
Goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala launched a long ball forward that was intelligently flicked on by Glen Otunga.
The delivery unsettled the Police backline and allowed the Kenya Under-20 international to sneak in behind the defence before calmly slotting home from close range to restore parity.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Homeboyz nearly grabbed the lead through Boniface Nyabuto.
Making his first start for the club, the former St Joseph's Youth attacker raced onto a through ball from Henry Omollo but was denied by an alert Daniel Ogembo in the Police goal.
The hosts soon threatened again.
Koutiama reacted quickest to another dangerous delivery from Badi but failed to hit the target from close range, while former Post Rangers attacker Brian Otieno later saw a powerful effort fly over the crossbar after weaving past his markers.
Homeboyz continued to pose a threat on the counterattack and should have gone ahead midway through the first half when Nyabuto beat the offside trap to latch onto a long ball behind the Police defence, only to send his effort narrowly wide.
At the opposite end, winger Hernest Malonga tested the visitors with a sharp attempt from Marvin Nabwire's pass, but his effort struck the side netting.
The visitors finished the half strongly.
Masava came close with a long-range strike that drifted inches wide before Machaka nearly added his second of the afternoon, beating his marker down the right flank and unleashing a fierce shot that cannoned off the upright.
Police almost carried a lead into the break moments later through Koutiama.
The striker combined brilliantly with Badi and Nabwire before forcing Wanzala into an excellent save from a tight angle, ensuring the teams headed into halftime level at 1-1.
The second half resumed at a similarly intense tempo, with both sides pushing for a winner.
Ten minutes after the restart, Nyabuto nearly put Homeboyz ahead when he connected with a pinpoint delivery from Omollo, but Abud Omar produced a timely clearance to deny the youngster.
The visitors continued to create opportunities.
Zinedine Wesonga guided a Moses Mudavadi delivery into the side netting shortly before Omollo fired wide after reacting quickest to a loose ball on the edge of the area.
Police eventually regained some momentum and nearly reclaimed the lead through veteran midfielder Clinton Kinanga, whose header from Badi's cross drifted agonisingly wide.
As the game entered its final stages, Homeboyz came closest to snatching all three points.
A well-worked corner from Estone Omengo found Mudavadi, whose flicked header crashed against the crossbar.
The rebound fell kindly to Potiphar Odhiambo, but Malonga produced a remarkable goal-line clearance to preserve parity.
Police also had a glorious opportunity of their own.
Ambrose Sifuna delivered an excellent cross from the byline that located Koutiama inside the area, but the striker somehow failed to convert from close range.
With neither side able to find the decisive goal, the contest eventually ended all square.
The result confirmed Kenya Police's third-place finish on 55 points, securing the Ksh 2 million prize reserved for the final podium position.
The draw for Homeboyz saw them conclude the season on 49 points and extend their disappointing winless run to eight matches, bringing an underwhelming end to a campaign that once promised much more.