Kenya Police cry foul ahead of Mombasa United clash at Mbaraki stadium

BY BRIAN OTIENO @Yobramos4                                Saturday, October 24, 2026

Officials of SportPesa Premier League side Kenya Police FC have cried foul after they were denied access to the Mbaraki Stadium on Saturday where they were supposed to have a light training session ahead of their clash with league debutants Mombasa United on Sunday.

The team arrived at the stadium at around 2pm but found the ground busy – a tournament was ongoing.

They had gone to the stadium to have a customary feel of the pitch ahead of their match 24 hours later.

However, upon enquiry, the stadium management said they had no prior information that they would be using the ground on Saturday.

It is customary for visiting sides to have a feel of the pitch on which they will be playing a match, a day before the actual match.

This angered the Kenya Police FC official who read malice.

The team’s technical director Mbarak Bashatir lamented their ‘mistreatment’ as players who were supposed to have a shake up to address the fatigue from the ling journey from Nairobi, were forced to idle around in the stadium.

“The FKF and CAF rules allow teams to feel the pitch ahead of their matches with the home teams. If we are denied access to the pitch today, then we are doing a disservice to football,” Bashatir told reporters at Mbaraki Stadium.

He said these are the things that damage the reputation of football in Kenya.

“We are visitors and we need to be accorded some respect. It is not right what they have done to us,” he said.

Bashatir read malice in the whole saga, saying it was a pre-planned decision meant to frustrate them so as to disorient them ahead of their clash on Sunday.

"We know what is happening. We have information of what was planned. However, we came here for three points and we will go back home with the three points. Their little games will not work," an angry Bashatir said. 

He called on FKF to address such matters because they bring the game into disrepute. 

The management of Mbaraki stadium said they had no prior information about the game. 

They went ahead and organized a tournament on the ground. 

They told Kenya Police FC to raise their concerns with FKF saying the stadium is a private property.

“People mistake this stadium for a public property. This is private property owned by KPA Club and not even Bandari FC. Bandari FC have no authority over this pitch,” a member of the KPA Club told the Star in confidence.

However, FKF Mombasa branch secretary general Steve Mureithi said home teams can provide access to the ground they host matches for the visiting sides to feel as a courtesy.

“It is not a must that they provide that access. The visiting sides have no authority over the host’s ground. It is always out of courtesy and sportsmanship that the hosts provide access to their grounds,” Mureithi told the Star.

He said in most cases, the visiting sides make prior arrangements, including access to ground where they can shake up, before traveling for their away matches.

On Saturday, frustrated Kenya Police FC players were seen milling around the stadium waiting for the next course of action. 

Kenya Police FC sit in the relegation zone, third from bottom, with a single point after two games.

They drew their league opener away to another league debutant Migori FC 1-1 before falling 2-1 at home to AFC Leopards in their second match.

Mombasa United are no better.

They have lost both of their opening two matches in the league and sit at the bottom of the log. 

Earlier, Mombasa United had vowed to start picking points against Kenya Police FC despite wrangles within their leadership continuing to rock the team. 

Coach Abdulhamid Moallin said his charges are in good spirits despite their difficult start to their debut premier league season.

“We trained very well the last two days and I’m sure we’ll carry that energy and preparation into the game tomorrow against Kenya Police, which is a very good team.

“We expect a very tough game and we need to be at our best. We need to start off on the front foot,” Moallin said.

The head coach said the league is a learning curve for most of his players, with the first league game presenting challenges that were different from their second game, both of which they lost.

Moallin said he feels sorry for his players who he said are forced to play on pitches that make it difficult to control the ball under pressure.

Mombasa United, which is currently witnessing wrangles in their leadership with patron Suleiman Shahbal claiming he is being pushed out because of political reasons, lost their first ever premier league game 1-0 at home to Kakamega Homeboys FC, before succumbing 2-1 away to Mara Sugar FC.

Ends...

PICs:
Kenya Police FC technical director Mbarak Bashatir at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa on Saturday / BRIAN OTIENO

Kenya Police FC technical director Mbarak Bashatir addresses the technical bench at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa on Saturday / BRIAN OTIENO

Kenya Police FC players at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa on Saturday / BRIAN OTIENO