After a gloomy start to the month, it’s safe to say that the sun is finally beginning to shine for the Sharks. A time like this last week, they had just lost terribly to visiting Kakamega Homeboyz and in between today’s crucial fixture and that bad result was a midweek slum derby. Questions were being asked about this team’s ability to defend their Shield Cup trophy andfor many pundits, KCB was a formidable opponent, well poised to kick out the struggling defending champions.

However, in a resolute turn around, the boys ended their eleven game winless run in the midweek derby fixture and have today secured a historic third successive cup final slot to put themselves in prime position of returning to the continental scene for the second time; this is courtesy of a well deserved win over the bankers in a edgy match.

The first half saw the bankers happy to seat behind the ball and wait to hit on the counter while the sharks spent most time in the opponents final third looking for that breakthrough. Shaphan Oyugi who was playing as a makeshift right back went close to setting up Kapaito in the 23rd minute but his low drive was tippedover by the opponents defence just before the striker could tap it in.

Machika then came even closer in the 38th when he received a brilliant pass from Kapaito and went round the keeper only for the keeper to recover in time and block his goal bound shot to the dismay of the youngster. The sharks also had a scare in the 41st minute when Gad Mathew came to the rescue to punch out a well taken shot from a well planned set piece by the bankers.

After the break, KCB could only hold on to the renewedpressure of the sharks for fourteen minutes. Bonface Onyango steeped up to float in a free kick into the box and pressure from the enterprising Machika led to a defensive mix-up that resulted in an own goal.

That goal opened up the match but sharks were contended with the goal, showing great maturity to manage the game with proper possession play. Substitute Harrison Mwendwa almost doubled the lead on the counter after he cut in from the left to unleash a powerful show that was punched out by the banker’skeeper. The last ten minutes saw the shark’s backline win several aerial duels as the opponents started putting pressure with crosses and long throw-ins that yielded nothing.

The win sees the boys set up a clash against coastal side Bandari FC on June 1st with a chance to represent the nation in next year’s CAF Confederations Cup at stake.

Starting XI: Gad, Juma©, Lemu, Onyango, Shaphan, Yidah, Abuya, Wasambo, Kapaito, Machika, Mazembe.

SUBS: Bwire, Abege, Masaba, Lokale, Mwendwa , Origa , H.Juma.