Farouk Shikalo named KPL Player of the Month as Bandari goalkeeper draws continental scouts
The 27-year-old has kept five clean sheets in six May fixtures, making him the standout performer in a month that has elevated his profile far beyond the Kenyan coast.
Omondi Baraka
Chief Sports Editor
Bandari FC goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo has been named the Kenyan Premier League's Player of the Month for May, following an extraordinary run of form that included five clean sheets in six appearances. The award, voted on by a panel of KPL coaches and technical directors, recognises a level of consistency that has made Shikalo one of the most talked-about players in East African football.
The saves that defined a month
Shikalo's defining moment came in the 76th minute against Police FC, when he produced a full-stretch save from a point-blank header that would have equalised and ended Bandari's unbeaten May run. The stop was named the KPL Save of the Month and drew widespread commentary on social media across the continent. It was part of a wider pattern: Shikalo faced 32 shots on target in May and stopped 30 of them.
“I don't think about individual awards during the season. But receiving this from the coaches means more to me than any supporter vote.”
— Farouk Shikalo, Bandari FC
FootballKE has learned that scouts from two CAF Champions League-participating clubs were present at Bandari's home match against Ulinzi Stars last month. Shikalo's contract runs until June 2027 and Bandari are understood to have no intention of selling this window. Whether that position holds if the interest becomes formal offers remains to be seen.
