Shabana in fight to reclaim lost glory after lacklustre campaigns performances
Since Shabana FC earned promotion to the second-tier league, Betika National Super League (BNSL) in the 2018/2019 season, the former premiership side has performed below expectations according to their ambitious fans.
In their first season upon their return to the second tier in the 2018/2019 season, having beaten Mwatate United in the promotion playoff, Shabana went on to finish ninth in the season with 54 points, after winning 15 games, drawing nine, and losing 14 in the 38 matches they played.
In their second stint in the league, which ended prematurely, following the cancellation of all leagues due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, Shabana finished 11th at the end of the first leg that the federation used to promoted Nairobi City Stars and.
Shabana then ended the season with 24 points from seven victories, three draws, and eight defeats.
Third appearance
Last season, their third appearance in the league, Tore Bobe, as the Kisii based side is fondly referred to, improved a little bit to finish eight with 51 points out of a possible 111 points after winning 13 matches, 12 draws, and similar defeats in the 37 matches they played.
However, as the new season, 2021/2022 nears, their fourth season in the league, team head coach Robert Ojienda is upbeat, this season, the glamour boys will be aiming for better performance and ultimately, a shot at winning the league and most importantly, earning promotion to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League next season.
“We’ve lost about seven first eleven players, meaning we are in the process of building a new strong team considering other factors like time for pre-season.
As of now l will be wrong to say that we have assembled a team that will take us to KPL but what I am sure of is, we have a better squad in terms of depth and quality than last season, so far, we are half done with players registration in two weeks’ time or so l think l will be in a position to give our objective for the season because for now we are hardly three weeks in our preparation,” coach Robert Ojienda told People Sport.
Some of the key players that have decamped Tore Bobe, include four who have moved to premier league sides and one who has crossed over to Kisumu All-Stars.
Mohamed Coulibally and Dukuly Recoba have joined FC Talanta, Elix Onyun and John Musyoka have moved to Homeboyz FC while Brian Magare, the team’s assistant captain and right back has decamped to Kisumu All-Stars.
In their replacement, Tore Bobe has acquired the services of experienced Peter Ogechi who has returned to the club from Gusii FC, Fred Omolo has joined the club from Kisumu Hot Stars, Lazarea Frank from Kangemi United, Victor Kamungo, and Benard Ochieng (Migori Youth), Benard Okinyi (Gor Youth), and Philemon Livingston from Muranga Seal.
