•The Thika-based club was promoted to top-flight football after FKF moved to cancel all leagues in the country, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
•Before the cancelation of the leagues, Bidco sat second in the NSL (National Super League) table behind Nairobi City Stars.
Image: HANDOUT
Bidco United head coach Anthony Akhulia has set his sights on a top-10 finish in the Premier League for the first time since the club’s promotion in 2021.
The Thika-based club was promoted to top-flight football after FKF moved to cancel all leagues in the country, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Before the cancelation of the leagues, Bidco sat second in the NSL (National Super League) table behind Nairobi City Stars.
Akhulia acknowledged the league’s tight competition but went on to add that he has confidence in his charges.
“We only need to better our performance in the league. We are looking to finish in the top 10. It will be a hard task, but I have confidence in my squad,” he said.
The gaffer further noted that their experience in the league has been nothing short of a turbulent adventure.
“The league is difficult. But we are still growing as a team. The players are very good and up for each game but we also suffer some heartbreaking losses. Sometimes the results don’t depict what we have been doing in training,” he noted.
Bidco are on a two-game losing streak in the league with their last encounter ending in a 1-0 loss to Murang’a Seal.
Former AFC Leopards defender, Robert Mudenyu’s solitary goal in the sixth minute gave Seal the win. Before that, Bidco fell to Nzoia United 2-1.
Bidco currently sit ninth in the league with 30 points with eight wins, six draws and eight losses after 22 league games.
The tactician noted that the team was not clinical in converting the chances they got hence leading to the losses.
“We were not clinical with the chances we created. We need to utilise the chances we get. At this level, if you fail to capitalise on the chances you create, you get beaten,” he said.
Akhulia went on to add, “To make sure we finish in the top 10, we need to win more games and widen the gap because we are just one point better than number 10 and three ahead of position 11.”
Last season, Bidco finished in position 13 with 36 points. With about 12 more league matches left in this season, the team boost of 30 points.
The coach however believes that the season is not yet a success and there is plenty more work to be done to realize their targets.
The team's best-ever performance in the league was after their promotion in the 2021/22 season, where they placed 11th with 44 points.
Akhulia was full of praise for midfielder Chris Opondo, who is currently in the race for the league’s top assister with 5 assists.
“Opondo is an exceptional player. He is playing very good football and coming up with incredible assists,” he noted.
He further gave an update on custodian John Otieno who has been out for the past two league games. “Otieno is currently injured and we do not want to rush him. We will give him ample time to recover and come back fit.”
Otieno is also in the race for the Golden Gloves award managing seven clean sheets, 8 less than leader Kelvin Omondi of Gor Mahia.
Bidco play Sofapaka in their next league match on Saturday (March 2) at the Thika Stadium.
The last encounter between them ended in a 3-0 victory for Batoto Ba Mungu following a brace from Jacob Onyango and a goal from Darius Msagha.
Akhulia is, however, confident that the team will post good results in the upcoming match that will in turn get them back to winning ways.
“Winning the game against Sofapaka is very crucial to us. We need to win the game to get back on a winning trajectory in the league,” he noted.