Mombasa comes to a standstill as Bandari and the AFC Leopards face off

The undying love for football in Mombasa will again be visible today when local favorites Bandari FC take on the formidable AFC Leopards at the Mbaraki Sports Club at 3:00 p.m. The streets of the sizzling-hot coastal city are slowly coming to life with excitement.

A sneak preview of the town by Mozzart Sport showed most vendors and fans had already started making their way to the privately-owned Kenya Ports Authority’s Mbaraki Sports Club, which remains the only standard facility that can host Kenyan Premier League matches in Mombasa.

The venue is approximately three minutes from Mombasa town via tuk-tuk, making it accessible to all interested fans.

It was quite insane, as most of the screens in the city, including the one at the ferry, were advertising the much-awaited match.

At the venue, Mozzart Sport engaged Bandari FC board member Ricky Solomon, who was inspecting the field one more time before the showdown. The former Kenyan international pointed out that they were expecting nothing but a win. The coastal giants will be enjoying the services of new coach John Baraza, who took over the duties of now-former coach Twahir Muhiddin.

"We expect to win, win, and win today since we are at home," Solomon insisted.

At the same time, the Kenya Football Coaches Association (KEFOCA) Chairman pointed out that extensive security measures were put in place to ensure a safe and seamless match. He further stated that they expected over 5,000 fans at the venue.

"Bandari FC understands the importance of safety, especially during high-profile matches like this one. We are committed to making their experience as enjoyable as possible. Our top priority is to create a secure environment where they can freely support our team," Solomon told Mozzart Sport.

Solomon also spoke about the transformation in the team's relationship with the community, noting that they have been working on creating a sense of belonging among the fans.

"In the past, we had very few fans. Some fans did not feel like Bandari FC truly belonged to the community. But today, the support we receive speaks volumes about the bond between the club and the coastal community. We've worked tirelessly to make our fans proud," he averred.

Bandari FC currently sits 13th on the log with seven points, while Ingwe sits in a worrying 17th position with four points. Both teams will be in the hunt for maximum points to improve their rankings.

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