Shabana ease relegation worries with Sofapaka win as champions Gor Mahia go 12 points clear

Shabana FC resisted the relegation battle in their favour after registering a hard-fought 1-0 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League victory against Sofapaka at Machakos Stadium on Saturday.

What made Tore Bobe’s win crucial is the fact that fellow relegation fighters Muhoroni Youth suffered a 3-1 defeat to  Bidco United at Muhoroni Stadium. After a 0-0 result in the first half, Shabana scored in the 55th-minute courtesy of Brian Michira to ensure they bagged maximum points and sealed a double over the side they had hammered 4-1 in the first round meeting at Homabay Stadium.

The win, their seventh of the campaign, enabled the Kisii-based Glamour Boys to move above Muhoroni and Sofapaka to position 15th on the 18-team table with 28 points, the same number as Batoto ba Mungu but Tore Bobe have a better goal difference.

Shabana have now secured seven wins, seven draws, and suffered 14 defeats while Sofapaka have just like Shabana won seven matches, drawn seven, and lost 14 with only six matches remaining to end the season. Tore Bobe’s remaining matches will see them face reigning champions Gor Mahia away on May 11, host FC Talanta on May 15, face Kariobangi Sharks away on May 19, host AFC Leopards on June 15, host Bidco United on June 19 before winding the season with an away game against Murang’a Seal on June 23.

On the other hand, Sofapaka’s last matches will see them face Kariobangi Sharks away on May 11, host Posta Rangers on May 15, travel to face Bandari FC on May 18, host Gor Mahia on June 16, play Nairobi City Stars away on June 19 and conclude the season against Nzoia Sugar on June 23.

Meanwhile, Muhoroni’s defeat against Bidco saw them drop to position 17 with 27 points while Nzoia look likely to get relegated as they are lying at the bottom of the log with 17 points.

“It was a good win and a great fight from my players, we played on a difficult ground (following the rains which made the surface difficult for both players) but I am happy my players mastered it better than their opponents to get the important win,” said Shabana coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo.

“It is a good win for us, a win that keeps our dream of staying in the league alive, we want to fight and get positive results in the remaining six matches, we want to do it for the fans, we want to stay up and it is possible we can achieve our target of staying up if we play like we did against Sofapaka.”

At the top of the table, Gor Mahia moved 12 points clear after beating Murang’a Seal 3-1 at SportPesa Arena. Austin Odhiambo continued his fine form after putting K’Ogalo ahead but the home side levelled matters before the half-time break courtesy of John Kiplangat.

Benson Omalla stole the show in the second half after notching a double to seal Gor Mahia’s 17th season victory and increase their points tally to 60, 12 more than second-placed Kenya Police, who have 48. Finally, Kariobangi Sharks hammered KCB 3-0 to move to 10th position with 37 points while the Bankers dropped to 12th with 35 points.