South City FC Fall To Narrow Defeat At Birika

South City Fc travelled to Birika to face Birika Blitz Fc in a league away match on 11 January 2026, with kick-off at 2:30pm. The 90-minute contest ended in a 1-0 defeat for South City, the only goal coming from a defensive error midway through the first half. The match was officiated by a referee whose performance was rated average, and a modest crowd of 50 witnessed the encounter.

South City lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, deploying a back four consisting of Malachi Ade at right back, Bedan Muchiri and Fabian Otieno as central defenders, and Kang Deng on the left flank. Shielding the defence was Alex M in the holding midfield role, tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball forward. Ahead of him, Kenneth Mutisya operated on the right wing and Alvin Kivuva on the left, both expected to provide width and creativity. The front three featured Alvin Lole on the right wing, Jeff G as the central striker, and Sam Murkomen on the left wing, all charged with spearheading the attack. Vicky Keeper guarded the goal. The substitutes available were Rodney Kipkorir, Wayne Kephers, Nick Maasai, Patrick Muraya, and Amos Kimelly.

The match began with both sides probing cautiously, but it was Birika Blitz who took the lead in the 25th minute. A defensive mistake from South City allowed the opponents to capitalise from close range, slotting the ball home with their right foot. This early setback put South City on the back foot, forcing them to chase the game for the remainder of the half.

Despite the goal, South City attempted to assert themselves through their midfield and wide players, but the Birika defence remained resolute. The first half concluded without further scoring, leaving South City trailing by a single goal at the break.

At half-time, South City made a flurry of tactical substitutions to try and turn the tide. Rodney Kipkorir replaced Sam Murkomen on the left wing, Wayne Kephers came on for Kenneth Mutisya on the right attacking midfield, and Nick Maasai took over from Kang Deng at left back. These changes aimed to inject fresh energy and defensive stability while maintaining attacking intent.

Shortly after the hour mark, further adjustments saw Patrick Muraya come on for Alex M in the central midfield holding role, and Amos Kimelly replace Jeff G up front. These moves indicated a shift in strategy, possibly to bolster midfield control and add a different dimension to the attack.

South City pressed for an equaliser but struggled to break down Birika Blitz’s defence, which remained disciplined and well-organised. The introduction of substitutes helped to maintain pressure, but clear-cut chances were limited.

In the 75th minute, Wayne Kephers received a yellow card for dissent, reflecting the mounting frustration within the South City ranks as the clock ticked down.

Throughout the match, Vicky Keeper was a standout performer for South City, making several important saves to keep the scoreline respectable. His efforts earned him the player of the match accolade despite the defeat.

Ultimately, South City were unable to find a way past Birika Blitz’s defence and left Birika with nothing from the fixture. The narrow loss highlighted the need for greater defensive composure and clinical finishing in future league encounters.