Kenya: Fans Anxious Ahead of Coast Derby This Weekend

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Philip Mbaji

16 June 2011

Anxiety has gripped the Coast football fraternity ahead of the local derby between the sea-siders Congo United and Bandari FC this weekend at the Mbaraki Sports Club.

The technical benches of the two coastal sides have not been spared as they cross their fingers ahead of the match that has divided coast fans down the middle.

Both teams will parade new faces having signed new coaches as well as players in a bid to avoid relegation in the Kenya Premier League.

Congo United coach Gilbert Selebwa and team manager Aref Baghazal have conceded the fact that Bandari have good players but insist this will be a different ball game. The two have also vowed to prove their popularity in the region. “This is going to be a tough match with high expectations from the fans who are now divided. We can’t predict the outcome of the derby as this is a rare encounter,” said Baghazal.

Selebwa said his boys were prepared to take Bandari head on, saying they are not leaving anything to chance this time round.

“We are prepared for the face off and we have made all the arrangements possible to have ourselves on the winning side at the end of the match,” said Selebwa. Bandari coach Rishad Shedu said the home derby was not only tricky but also unpredictable. “Congo are good and that’s a fact. They have just signed new players who are already delivering. But this does not mean we will sit on the laurels and do nothing . We are equally up to the task,” said Shedu.

Shedu admitted that it was a trying moment for both sides as each day towards the big face-off is a big burden of anxiety and uncertainty.

Selebwa took over the Congo kids from former coach Gideon Ochieng who was shown the door after a series of dismal performance that reduced Congo into punching bag for all the KPL teams. Selebwa, however, registered his first win in a high profile match against AFC Leopards with a 1-0 victory.

At Bandari, coach Oliver Bango, who had also registered a string of poor results, resigned to pave way for Shedu’s takeover. Like Selebwa, Shedu has also registered interesting results lately.

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