Kibarani United FC welcomed Leeds FC to the Makande Primary School on 10 May 2025 for a league encounter that kicked off at 4:30pm. The home side delivered a resounding performance, securing a comprehensive 5-0 victory that showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
Kibarani United lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, designed to maximise width and utilise the pace of their forwards. Cosmas Okumu took his position in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Bicky Bakari on the right, Gabu and Rankie Wanjala in central defence, and Mendy on the left. The midfield trio featured Joram Kimathi on the right, Ndegwa centrally, and Conteh Ombongi on the left, while the attacking front consisted of Thomas on the right, Yobra Obizo as the central striker, and Amos Mageto on the left. This setup allowed for fluid transitions between defence and attack, with an emphasis on creating chances from the wings.
The substitutes for Kibarani United included Bruno Hamisi, Nyambane,Sammy Kapelo,Sele and Brian Owino, who would be called upon later in the match to maintain the momentum.
The match began with Kibarani United asserting their dominance early on. Joram Kimathi was instrumental, making a slide rule pass in the sixth minute, although it did not create a chance. However, he quickly followed up with a long pass in the twelfth minute that did lead to a chance, signalling Kibarani's intent. Rankie Wanjala also contributed with a long pass shortly after, but it failed to create a significant opportunity.
Thomas had a chance to open the scoring in the fifteenth minute but shot wide, a miss that would soon be forgotten. Joram Kimathi continued to be a key figure, delivering another long pass in the eighteenth minute, though it did not result in a chance. Mendy then made his mark with a long pass that created a chance in the nineteenth minute, setting the stage for the breakthrough.
In the twenty-second minute, Joram Kimathi scored a spectacular goal directly from a corner kick, using his right foot to find the net from long range. This opened the floodgates for Kibarani United, who continued to press forward. Bicky Bakari attempted to add to the tally in the twenty-fourth minute but shot wide, while he made another long pass shortly after that did not create a chance.
Amos Mageto's influence grew as he made a long pass that created a chance in the twenty-seventh minute, followed by Thomas's attempt that went high. Conteh Ombongi also tried his luck in the twenty-eighth minute but missed the target. Joram Kimathi's relentless efforts continued with another long pass in the twenty-ninth minute, although it did not lead to a goal.
In the thirty-second minute, Joram Kimathi was flagged offside, a decision that was deemed correct due to good defending from Leeds. However, Kibarani United's momentum was unshaken, and in the thirty-third minute, Amos Mageto provided a flick assist for Mendy, who scored a stunning volley from outside the box, doubling the lead.
As the first half drew to a close, Kibarani made two tactical substitutions, bringing on Bruno Hamisi for Thomas and Nyambane for Yobra Obizo in the fortieth minute. Just before half-time, Amos Mageto came close to scoring again, hitting the crossbar in the forty-first minute, while Bruno Hamisi's attempt in the forty-second minute went wide.
The second half resumed with Kibarani United maintaining their attacking intent. Mendy scored his second goal in the sixtieth minute, capitalising on a goalmouth scramble from outside the box. His performance was becoming increasingly influential, and he added a third goal to make it hattrick in the seventieth minute with a direct free-kick that showcased his technical ability.
As the match progressed, Kibarani made a further substitution in the eightieth minute, replacing Mendy with Brian Owino. The home side continued to create chances, with Rankie Wanjala making a key pass in the eighty-second minute that led to a scoring opportunity. However, Brian Owino's attempt in the eighty-fourth minute went high, and Nyambane followed suit with a high shot in the eighty-sixth minute.
The final goal of the match came in the eighty-ninth minute when Bruno Hamisi tapped in from close range, assisted by Amos Mageto's short pass. This capped off a remarkable performance for Kibarani United, who finished the match with a resounding 5-0 victory over Leeds FC.
Mendy's outstanding Hattrick display earned him the accolade of Player of the Match, as Kibarani United showcased their potential and left a lasting impression on their home supporters.
