Former Premier League side Shabana eager to continue with push to earn promotion
National Super League teams ‘Tore Bore’ as Shabana FC is popularly known, and Vihiga Bullets who are seemingly leaving nothing to chance to earn promotion to the Betking Premier League next season face tricky opposition this weekend.
In the meantime, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has postponed all matches that were originally planned for Nyanza and Western, thus making the weekend thin with only four fixtures on the card.
According to reports, the federation is consulting with the government to ascertain whether the original matches will be switched to central Kenya or Nairobi due to a high number of COVID-19 cases in the affected venues.
The reports further indicated that plans are afoot to have players and officials vaccinated in the alternative venues ahead of the rescheduled matches as a way of combating the spread of the virus.
With absolutely no action today, third-placed Shabana will tackle fifth placed Kibera Black Stars at Ligi Ndogo ground on Ngong’ Road tomorrow in a match that the former shall use to make a stronger statement of intent in their promotion bid.
Although favourites, at least on paper, this is one match Shabana should not take lightly given Kibera All Stars giant-killing reputation.
Against Silibwet last Wednesday, Tore Bobe or invincible as Shabana are fondly known as , were wasteful despite winning 2-0 and should device ways of getting a bagful of goals against Kibera who are tutored by former Betking Kenya Premier League KCB FC trainer Elvis Ayany.
For the last couple of weeks, Stars, who pulled off a sensational 3-2 win over Nairobi Stima in midweek action, have enjoyed a steady rise of their own and could pose a real threat to Shabana, the different fortunes of the two teams notwithstanding.
“We know what to expect and are prepared but obviously, we do not expect things to be any easier.
It will be eleven men against the same number and it will all boil down to which team shall utilize its chances,” said Ayany.
He reckoned that the league is getting tougher by the day if one looks at the slim margins that separate the frontrunners.
