Bidco United tactician Anthony Akhulia is elated following his side’s winning start to the 2022/23 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) campaign on Sunday.The Thika-based side saw off Nairobi City Stars courtesy of first-half goals by David Gateri and Henry Juma to pick maximum points in their opening match and exert dominance over their opponent in the top-flight.However, Akhulia acknowledged that the pressure experienced in the second half from Simba wa Nairobi was expected considering they were playing at home and were in search of at least a goal to get back in the game.Bidco United’s 2-0 win over Nairobi City Stars was their first-ever opening day win in the top flight.In their debut season, they played to a barren draw against Western Stima.In the voided season, they played to yet another barren draw against Vihiga Bullets.INTENT!#FKFPL— Murimi Njiru (@muriminjirujnr) November 21, 2022 This was the first time that Bidco were winning their opening fixture of the campaign since their promotion in 2020, the previous two having ended in barren draws against Western Stima and Vihiga Bullets.”Winning 2-0 away is a good start, I think they did well. The pressure in the second half was expected having in mind that City Stars were playing at home and down by two goals. It was a game of two halves, ours was the first and theirs was the second. They created so many chances but did not manage to convert, I think we survived,” the coach said.##NAJAVA_MECA_6824735##Bidco were terrific on the wings especially in the first half, with David Gateri on the left and Alex Juma running riot on the right and Akhulia acknowledged that they did that intentionally.Their efficiency on the wings forced City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti to make changes in the first half, introducing the long-serving Calvins Masawa for Rowland Makati who was having a tough time against Gateri. He also brought in the experienced Anthony Kimani in place of the debuting Kevin Etemesi as he sought to shake up the midfield.Gor Mahia finally trounce Nzoia, Tusker play like champions and brace for a league debutantHe revealed that they resorted to executing their attacks from the wings having seen City Stars play against Ulinzi Stars during the Elite Pre-season Cup last month, and he was happy that the plan paid off in the first half with two goals.”We studied and analysed them when they played against Ulinzi stars during the Elite Pre-Season Cup. We devised strategies to contain them and and destroy them using the wing-play. it was fruitful and we scored two goals. My players did well and it feels good to start the season with a win,” he added.Up next for Bidco is Gor Mahia in a match set to be played at the Thika Sub County Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
