New-look KCB dismantle Tusker amid refereeing controversy in dramatic FKFPL opening game

KCB sent a strong message in their bid to win the FKF Premier League title after recording a 2-0 victory over Tusker FC at the Kasarani Stadium on Friday, 19 September, amid controversies over the game's refereeing, which left KCB play a big part of the second half with a man who had been booked twice.

Having made a series of off-season signings, the Bankers, under new head coach Robert Matano, summoned the services of their new recruits to get the victory on the opening night, helped massively by a poor Tusker side.

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Former Gor Mahia man Boniface Omondi was the toast of the party with a first-half brace, which helped his side leap to the top of the table, and take early command of their status as worthy league contenders.

After a pretty slow start to the match played under the lights, it was the experienced winger who tipped the game in the Banker's favour, sneaking on two occasions past a seemingly non-existent Tusker defense, to add more doubt into their own title credentials.

The 30-year-old was first on target in the 18th minute after being found at the back-post by December Kisakah, before feasting on a rebound from a long throw-in to bury his second just four minutes to the break.

Tusker, who were forced to shuffle their pack in the first half and at the break, chased hard in the second period for a glimmer of hope, and almost found it when they were awarded a penalty in the 57th minute.

The decision came after striker Eric Kapaito had blasted the ball into the arms of defender Nashon Wekesa, who surprisingly remained on the pitch despite picking his second yellow card for the offense.

The defender, who had earlier on been booked for a foul on David Polepole in the first half, stood waiting for a red card to be shown in his face, only for center referee Dickens Mimisa to walk to the spot, ready for the penalty.

There were no claims regarding the call from either benches, and Kapaito, seeking to make a worthwhile return his former side, went on to fire his spot-kick way over Bonphas Munyasa's bar.

That was as close as Tusker came to getting a sniff in the contest, as KCB held out for the rest of the match, despite facing few nervous moments at the end,.

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Thomas Omole, with notably the best chance for Tusker, fluffed a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper after Clyde Senaji had played a tame back-pass to his path.

KCB, with numbers in defense, made their statement with the win, but a fall-out could ensue following the shocking call from the referee, which will leave Tusker pleading their own case of injustice.