Kenya Police FC were crowned FKF Premier League champions for the first time in their history after a narrow but tactically astute 1-0 victory over Shabana FC at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe win marked a monumental achievement for a club founded in 2014 and is a testament to the work done by head coach Etienne Ndayiragije, who took over when the team was struggling for wins and guided them to a title.The game was ultimately decided by a 75th-minute header from Brian Okoth, capitalising on a set-piece routine that exploited Shabana’s known vulnerability in defending dead-ball situations. Abraham Dawo offers solutions to remedy Kenyan football after starting an academyThe match brought together two sides with contrasting profiles—Shabana hesitant in their defending of set-pieces and Kenya Police, highly efficient in those same situations. Fittingly, a set-piece was what settled the contest in favour of Police.Ndayiragije set up his side in a 4-4-2 formation with Job Ochieng in goal. The backline featured Baraka Badi at right back, Emmanuel Erupe on the left, and the central pairing of Brian Okoth and David Ochieng. The midfield double pivot consisted of Kenneth Muguna and Charles Ouma, with Timothy Oyande and Alvin Mang’eni operating on the flanks. Up front, Eric Zakayo partnered with David Simiyu.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977544##Shabana, on the other hand, deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Maxwell Mulili in goal. Brian Bet and James Mazembe operated as fullbacks, flanking the central duo of Frank Mandela and George Onyango. Shem Odinga anchored the midfield with Justin Omwando and Brian Michira ahead of him. The front three featured Derrick Oketch and Darius Msagha on the wings, with Austin Odongo leading the line.Kenya Police leaned heavily on direct play, often opting for long balls to Simiyu, who used his imposing physical frame to contest aerial duels and bring others into play. New date for Kenya Police’s coronation against Gor MahiaZakayo remained close to Simiyu, ready to contest for second balls and sustain pressure in advanced areas. When these long balls were played, the Police fullbacks tucked inside, creating a narrow shape that denied Shabana space in transition. This compact structure proved effective in limiting Shabana’s quick breaks.Oyande had a dual role. He drifted wide at times to create overloads but also moved centrally to support midfield numbers. Despite these intelligent movements, he failed to make a major impact, largely because of limited service and Shabana’s aggressive low block that denied him time and space on the ball.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977564##Police’s fullbacks were notably conservative, rarely joining the attack simultaneously. When one did push forward, the other tucked in with the two centerbacks to form a three-man rest defence, a move aimed at safeguarding against Shabana’s counterattacking threats.Set-pieces and long throws were central to Police’s offensive strategy. During corners, Police crowded the six-yard box, aiming to cause disarray and win the first ball. Shabana employed a hybrid of zonal and man-marking, which worked effectively for much of the first half, but the pressure was unrelenting.Shabana did not build from the back either. Instead, they sought to play it long into Odongo, but the forward was neutralised in the air by Police’s dominant centre-back pairing. Mashemeji Derby rivalry at play as fans react to Kenya Police FC title triumphIn settled play, Omwando and Michira attempted to create central and wide overloads, with both fullbacks joining the attack to create 1v1 opportunities. Their approach relied on early crosses, which Police consistently defended well. Shabana also tried occasional switch balls, with Michira in the left halfspace targeting the right winger, and Omwando attempting similar switches from the opposite flank. However, Police’s defensive shifts were well-timed and consistently neutralised these attempts.The overlapping fullbacks from Shabana did leave exploitable spaces behind, which Police sought to target. Still, Shabana’s centre-backs covered well and managed to prevent any serious threats in these transitional phases.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977560##Both teams were forced into substitutions before halftime due to injuries. Oscar Juma replaced Msagha for Shabana, while Marvin Nabwire came on for Oyande. Although the tactical shapes remained unchanged, Juma lacked Msagha’s physical presence and long-range shooting ability, reducing Shabana’s threat in the final third.The second half resumed with both teams retaining their original tactical approaches. However, Shabana’s head coach, Peter Okidi, introduced a tactical shift in the 56th minute, bringing off Derrick Oketch and Shem Odinga for Kevin Omundi and Ezekiah Omuri. The shape changed from 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, with Omwando and Omundi forming a double pivot, Michira moving into the number ten role, and Odongo shifting to the left wing. Omuri played on the right, with Juma as the central striker.FKF responds to criticism from former CEO aspirantOmuri brought more directness and proved a threat in 1v1 duels against Badi but failed to deliver meaningful final balls. Michira, given license to roam, saw more of the ball but did not manage to influence the game in decisive areas.In response, Ndayiragije made a key substitution in the 61st minute, replacing Kenneth Muguna with Tyson Otieno. Otieno moved to the left wing, allowing Nabwire to drop deeper into midfield. This switch introduced more directness and improved 1v1 potential in wide areas, but Shabana’s midfielders remained aggressive in duels, cutting off quality supply to the flanks.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977558##Then came the pivotal moment. In the 74th minute, Ndayiragije made a triple substitution—Simiyu, Zakayo and Mang’eni came off, with Brian Musa, Dancan Otieno and David Irishura entering the fray. This shift suggested a move toward consolidation, effectively deploying four central midfield profiles with only two players operating in advanced roles. The tactical intention was clear: protect the point they had enough to win the title.One minute later, Police won a corner. Unlike earlier deliveries that were whipped to the near post amidst a crowd, this time Tyson Otieno floated the ball toward the six-yard box. Okoth, typically attacking the back post, adopted a different strategy. Tusker striker Ryan Ogam opens up on how failed transfer deals affected himHe started just outside the penalty area, unmarked. With a clear view of the ball’s flight path and ample space to build momentum, Okoth timed his run perfectly and met the delivery with power, heading past the helpless Mulili to give Police the lead.The rest of the match was about game management. Police dropped into a compact 4-5-1 formation, with Musa, Charles Ouma and Dancan Otieno closing down central spaces while Otieno and Nabwire patrolled the wide channels. Shabana could not find a way through. Their attempted crosses and switch plays were dealt with comfortably, and their attacking structure lost cohesion as the clock wound down.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977554##When the final whistle blew, Kenya Police FC had not only secured a 1-0 win but had also cemented themselves in the history books as league champions. The performance was a tactical blueprint of control, adaptation, and superior planning, all orchestrated by a coach who understood the opponent’s weaknesses and maximised his team’s strengths.The title is a fitting reward for a team that has evolved under Etienne Ndayiragije—once struggling for form, now national champions through structure, strategy, and set-piece precision.
