Kenya Police head coach Nicholas Muyoti and striker Yves Koutiama during a training session/POLICE FC
Kenya Police Nicholas Muyoti has backed his charges to rise to the occasion when they face Bandari FC in a high-stakes Mozzart Bet Cup semi-final at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
Muyoti has urged his side to maintain focus, discipline and emotional control as they seek to defend their cup ambitions and extend their strong run of form into the decisive stage of the competition.
The winner of the competition will represent Kenya in nxet season’s Confederation Cup.
“We know cup football punishes even the smallest lapse in concentration. This is why we have spent the whole week emphasising focus, structure and emotional control,” Muyoti said.
“Our players understand the responsibility of defending this trophy because this club has worked extremely hard over the last two seasons to build a winning culture. We are approaching this semi-final with seriousness, humility and belief. Opportunities like these can define a generation of players.”
Police enter the clash in strong form, sitting third in the SportPesa League and unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions. Their recent run includes a 1-1 draw against Gor Mahia and a commanding 3-0 win over AFC Leopards.
Their path to the semi-finals has reflected the same defensive structure and tactical discipline that Muyoti has instilled since taking charge earlier this year. Police edged Shabana FC 1-0 in the quarter-finals, with Abud Omar’s free-kick proving decisive in a tight contest.
Since his arrival midway through the campaign, Muyoti has transformed Police into one of the most organised teams in the league. The side has conceded just 19 goals in 31 league matches, underlining the defensive solidity that has underpinned their resurgence.
“Defensive discipline has been the foundation of our revival, but defending alone cannot win a semi-final of this magnitude,” Muyoti added. “We also want to become brave when we attack because football rewards teams that show courage in decisive moments.”
Beyond domestic success, Police are also driven by their recent taste of continental football. The club featured in the 2025-26 CAF Champions League, eliminating Mogadishu City Club before falling to Sudanese giants Al Hilal. A year earlier, they made their CAF Confederation Cup debut after winning the domestic cup, beating Ethiopia Coffee before bowing out to Egyptian giants Zamalek.
“We tasted continental football and the players now understand the standards, pressure and mentality required at that level,” Muyoti noted.
Standing in their way is a rejuvenated Bandari side coached by Benard Mwalala. The dockers have built a reputation for resilience this season, drawing 17 league matches but showing renewed sharpness in cup competition.
They booked their place in the semis with a dominant 5-2 victory over Mfalme FC, inspired by Amza Moubarack’s four-goal performance.
“The cup has completely changed the mood around the team because players can now see a realistic path toward silverware and continental football,” Mwalala said.
Bandari’s continental history includes a memorable 2019-20 CAF Confederation Cup run, where they eliminated Al Ahly Shendi and US Ben Guerdane before falling to Horoya AC in the playoff round.
Saturday’s semi-final also carries major stakes, with the winners set to earn Sh3 million and a CAF Confederation Cup ticket, while the runners-up will receive Sh2 million under FKF’s Mozzart Bet sponsorship arrangement.
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