The Mozzart Bet Cup Round of 16 took place the past weekend with eight matches taking place across different venues on Saturday and Sunday.Only five teams drawn from other levels apart from the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) had it made that far, but none of them progressed.National Super League (NSL) sides Muranga Seal, Darajani Gogo, and Mwatate United were eliminated by AFC Leopards, Sofapaka, and Bandari FC respectively, with Division One sides Rainbow FC and Equity FC getting bundled out by Tusker FC and Kariobangi Sharks respectively.##NAJAVA_MECA_7142310##The news was not on who progressed, but on who failed to do so with the spotlight landing firmly on Gor Mahia.Kenya Police FC, ‘Police St Germain’ (PSG) as some might call them, were fancied to go all the way and perhaps book a ticket to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup but the shortest route to that dream was stopped at the border, by the protectors of the Kenyan borders Ulinzi Stars, unless go the long way, the league way.The quarters of the competition will be an all-premier league affair, with exciting matches lined up.Of Mwalala’s midas touch and Baraza’s miscalculations. Tactical analysis of Kenya Police FC vs Ulinzi StarsFrom one side of the flow chart, Tusker will square it out with KCB while Ulinzi take on Sofapaka. On the other side, Kariobangi Sharks have a date with Kakamega Homeboyz with AFC Leopards facing Bandari.In football, it is not over until it is over. Unless it is completely over. This was the case in two matches, one pitting Kenya Police and Ulinzi Stars and the other one involving Tusker FC and Rainbow FC, both played on Saturday.Rainbow FC and Kenya Police took the lead in their respective matches, but the two sides were eventually bundled out courtesy of late goals.Big spenders Police FC staring at longer trophy droughtTusker trailed Rainbow by two goals at the break but the Brewers upstaged the opponent in the second half, with a late winner being scored with five minutes left on the clock.In the other match, Ulinzi scored the winner deep in stoppage time to shred the hearts of Kenya Police and their fans, a sweet victory, the first ever in the tie between the two sides. They showed resilience, just like soldiers should, and fought to the end and the reward was wholesome.Gor Mahia dumped outHolders of the cup, Gor Mahia, will not be defending the Cup they beat AFC Leopards for in 2021 after being bundled out by Kakamega Homeboyz.Despite starting the striking duo of new signing Patrick Kaddu and leading FKFPL scorer Benson Omala, K’Ogalo failed to breach Homeboyz as they lost by a solitary goal.Mozzart Bet Cup: AFC Leopards to face Bandari as quarter-final pairings are revealedThe format of the competition had promised the probability of a Mashemeji derby in the semis, but that will not be happening.Instead, there is a chance for an Ingo Derby in the event that both AFC Leopards and Kakamega Homeboyz edge their opponents in the quarters.Flowers for Equity FCFKF Division One Zone A side Equity FC might have been edged out of the competition, but they had a massive game against a side in the FKFPL that can be very frustrating with the ball.Instead of taking a direct approach with the ball and force to progress by whichever unorthodox style of play, the Owen Makokha charges knocked the ball around, just like their opponents did, exhibiting a technical class that many teams in the Premier League have struggled to show.Hats off, Roddy MangaSofapaka FC striker Roddy Manga scored a spectacular goal to win the match for Batoto Ba Mungu.Not only was the magnitude of the goal big but also the way he pulled that overhead kick with poise and ease.Goal of the tournament, perhaps., unless we see better ones in the remaining stages.Sofapaka striker Rody Manga scored some beauty against Darajani Gogo. pic.twitter.com/GmmLH7057V— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) April 1, 2023
