FKF Cup: Homeboyz sink Shabana, Kenya Police FC advance to quarters

Photo Credit - Kakamega Homeboyz Media.

Kakamega Homeboyz advanced to the quarter-finals of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup following a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Shabana FC at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu on Sunday.

Homeboyz started the brightest side and should have taken the lead in the 15th minute but Glen Masava’s strike from outside the 18 yard box flipped over the bar with Tore Bobe keeper out of his line. However, their persistence for the opener paid off three minutes later, when captain Moses Mudavadi connected to Kevin Amwayi's delivery to find the back of the net.

Abana Beingo continued to dominate proceedings but their player Brian Eshihanda went into the referee's book in the 35th minute following a clumsy foul. The game went into half-time break with Homeboyz leading 1-0 but they should have had more had they utilised their chances.

In the 53rd minute, Homeboyz head coach Francis Baraza went for his first change - Henry Omollo coming in for Gospel Otieno before Kevin Amwayi and John Omondi were replaced by Peter Thiong'o and Faruk Musisi. However, despite Shabana’s late surge for an equalizer, Homeboyz held on to qualify from the Round of 16.

In another fixture, defending champions Kenya Police FC cruised into the quarterfinals of the competition following a 2-0 win against minnows Kapenguria United at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

The law enforcers dominated proceedings from the onset and missed an open chance in the 10th minute when Clinton Kinanga’s header went off target. However, it was Kinanga, who scored the opener for Police in the 35th minute after he stabbed from inside the penalty area for a 1-0 cushion at the half-time break.

At the start of the second half, Police rang changes, youngster Mohammed Bajaber, Kinanga and Duncan Otieno were rested for David Irushira, Tim Oyanda and David Simiyu. After coming on, Simiyu scored the second, finishing off a cross from Oyanda.

Elsewhere, Ulinzi Stars defeated Bidco United 2-0 in an all Premier League clash while Murang’a Seal were the biggest winners in the Round of 16 after beating Kibera Soccer 5-1.