APS Bomet players celebrate/HANDOUT
Striker Hillary Juma delivered a second-half masterclass as APS Bomet FC secured a 2–0 win over Bandari FC at Kwale Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The Round 32 fixture was the only top-flight match to go ahead after the Football Kenya Federation suspended three other games following nationwide transport disruptions that affected travel logistics and forced a rescheduling of the midweek programme.
Bandari, playing at home, dominated early possession but struggled to break down a disciplined APS Bomet side that stayed compact and organised. The visitors absorbed pressure well, limiting clear chances and relying on quick transitions.
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The first half ended goalless, with Bandari’s build-up play failing to produce meaningful chances and APS Bomet remaining dangerous on the counter.
The breakthrough came in the 69th minute when Juma exploited space behind Bandari’s high defensive line. He latched onto a loose ball in midfield, accelerated past the defence, and calmly finished past the goalkeeper to put APS Bomet ahead.
“I noticed their defenders were pushing too high and leaving space behind,” Juma said. “Once the ball broke in midfield, I used my pace because I knew I could get there first.”
He credited the team’s preparation, adding: “We’ve worked a lot on counter-attacking movements in training. My focus was to help the team get all three points.”
Bandari pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were exposed again in stoppage time. Juma struck a second time, twisting away from his marker inside the box before firing a low finish into the bottom corner to seal his brace.
“The second goal was about composure,” he said. “I had to shift the ball quickly before finishing under pressure.”
The victory marked APS Bomet’s sixth consecutive clean sheet and underlined their strong late-season form. Head coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo praised his team’s discipline and tactical execution.
“We stayed compact because we knew Bandari would start strongly,” Omollo said. “The plan was to absorb pressure and hit on the counter.”
He confirmed that the result secured top-flight safety for the club. “This win confirms our survival, which was the main target when I arrived. Now we can play with freedom.”
Bandari head coach Bernard Mwalala expressed frustration as his side extended their winless run to six matches.
“We lacked a cutting edge,” he said. “You cannot dominate possession and fail to test the goalkeeper.”
He also criticised defensive lapses in transition. “Conceding on the counter like that is unacceptable. We lost concentration at key moments.”
The result leaves Bandari 10th on 41 points, while APS Bomet rise to 13th on 40 points, confirming their Premier League survival.
