Six lessons learned from FKF Premier League match week 28

The FKF Premier League homestretch continued to deliver thrilling upsets and stunning results on both ends of the table, with the title race and relegation battle having twists in equal measure.

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Matchweek 28 also paved the way for the upcoming Mashemeji Derby pitting AFC Leopards against their arch-rivals Gor Mahia.

In what is also turning out to be an unfortunate norm this season, there was controversial officiating in the match between Gor Mahia and Bandari FC, which continues to be a hot topic in local football circles.

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Mozzart Sport extensively covered all nine matches and looks at six lessons deduced from the weekend’s fixtures.

All to play for in the 99th Mashemeji Derby

The results of both AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia over the weekend were perhaps the best way of icing the preparations for the much-awaited Mashemeji Derby.

The two clubs are set to face each other in the 99th Mashemeji Derby scheduled for Sunday, 26 April at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Unlike the numerous previous encounters when only bragging rights were at stake, the upcoming derby adds the spice of title race permutations.

Gor Mahia head into the match sitting on top of the league table with 58 points, as Leopards follow closely with 55 points.

With third-placed Kenya Police FC having 47 points, the title race has been reduced to a contest between the two biggest teams in the country.

With Leopards losing 3-0 to Police FC and Gor Mahia held to a barren draw by Bandari FC in matchweek 28, both will be keen to get back to winning ways in the derby.

Additionally, K’Ogalo will have an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the log to six points and move closer to the title, while a win for Leopards will take them level on points with Gor as they seek to end their 28-year wait for a league title.

Dubious officiating eroding FKFPL integrity

Teams invest a considerable amount of time, money and other resources to prepare for games, with fans even more emotionally attached to their respective sides.

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At least they all deserve a fair ground for competition. In the end, the league should be won by the team that puts in more effort and wins the majority of games on a fair ground.

However, the referee's decision or confusion as some fans refer to it, has come out as a major factor this season, shaping both the title and relegation battle.

Match officials once again were the topic of the day in the Gor Mahia versus Bandari clash after the centre referee seemed to have awarded a late penalty to Gor Mahia for a foul on Shariff Musa.

Shockingly, after consultations with the fourth official, the referee rescinded his decision, leaving fans to wonder about the criteria used to reverse the penalty decision.

To add salt to injury, after play resumed, the fourth official indicated five minutes of added time, but the referee blew the final whistle with barely half of the added minutes played.

As a way of improving the integrity of the game and the title race, FKF should only appoint FIFA-recognised referees to handle the remaining matches involving Gor Mahiwa and AFC Leopards.

Gor Mahia robbed? K'Ogalo drop points against Bandari amid controversial penalty reversal

AFC Leopards lose focus ahead of Mashemeji Derby

Title-chasers AFC Leopards seemed to have forgotten that they had a match against defending champions Kenya Police FC and instead began preparing for the Mashemeji Derby.

Throughout the week, Ingwe fans and management were only talking about the Mashemeji Derby with the club, through its social media handles, marketing the derby tickets, forgetting that the Police match preceded the derby.

In effect, the mentality seemed to have also crept into the dressing room as Leopards’ body language was fragile, leading to their 3-0 loss to Police FC, igniting memories of how Gor Mahia rotated the squad in their first leg clash with APS Bomet, as a way of preparing for the derby, only to lose both matches.

New bus propels Shabana to victory

Days after receiving a brand new state-of-the-art team bus from President William Ruto, Shabana FC grabbed a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz to complete what was a fruitful week for the club.

However, the Glamour Boys experienced a decline in match-day revenue, something that they must work on as it has been one of the main sources of income for the club.

Pamzo’s relegation battle experience kicks in

When he was signed by APS Bomet in December 2025, coach Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo’s task was to ensure the team does not suffer relegation.

With plenty of experience in helping teams to survive, Pamzo was the perfect man for the job and is seemingly getting it right at this critical stage.

The former Gor Mahia tactician guided APS to a 3-0 victory over his former side, Posta Rangers and pushed them to 14th on the log with 28 points, two points above Kariobangi Sharks in the red zone.

Michael Karamor silences ‘mouthy’ Muran'ga Seal

The match between Nairobi United and Murang’a Seal was preceded by heavy online banter from both their official handles and fans.

The online talks charged the encounter, and on match day, Seal were two goals ahead inside five minutes, leading to jubilations in the stands, but that noise was silenced by a first-half hat trick by Michael Karamor, who helped Naibois stage a comeback and secure a 4-2 victory.