Murang'a SEAL can dare dream.
What started as a sport mentorship program for non-privileged footballers at the grassroots level seven years ago has now turned out to be blessing and beacon of hope for thousands of aspiring footballers in Thangathi, Kiharu Constituency, in Muranga County.
Murang'a SEAL earned promotion to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League for the first time in their history after registering a narrow 1-0 victory away to Coastal Heroes last Sunday.
The victory saw them remain top of the National Super League (NSL) standings with 64 points same as Shabana, points that lifted them to the top tier league next season with three games left to the end of the 2022-2023 campaign.
"It is overwhelming. Hard work pays and this big achievement is a result of passion, dedication, belief, unity, team work and love from the Murang'a SEAL family and community around the club," said the team's head coach, Vincent Nyaberi.
Nyaberi was not in the picture when the Murang'a SEAL's journey begun in 2016, but he is definitely the man behind the team's rise into the Premier League. From fighting relegation in 2021, to promotion in the top league within two years, is no mean feat. Since joining the club in January 2021, Nyaberi has seen the upward transition of the team, lifting them to their current status.
"I arrived at SEAL when the club was bottom of the table with one point and I want to say it was so inspiring to the boys and they believed in themselves. They finished ninth at the end of the campaign. That was a sign that they can play too," said the former Shabana coach.
Last year, Nyaberi guided the club to a third-place finish in the NSL where they sniffed at their first opportunity to earn promotion to the top league by virtue of playing in the relegation-promotion playoffs.
According to the FKF rules, the third ranked team in the NSL at the end of the regular season plays the 16th placed team from the Premier League in two-legged ties, where the winner takes it all and earns a place in the Premier League.
SEAL played Wazito FC where they lost 2-1 in the first leg in Thika before edging the topflight side 3-2 in the return leg at St Sebastian Park in Muranga. A 4-4 aggregate saw SEAL fail to qualify, as Wazito remained afloat thanks to the away goal rule.
Nevertheless, the reinstated FKF administration declared the 2022 season null avoid and ruled out any promotion or relegation of clubs in the top two tier leagues; FKF-PL and NSL.
Despite the disappointment of coming so close but missing out, Nyaberi said he believed this year will be their year to rule among kings in the NSL.
"We started the 2022-2023 season very strongly, winning five matches in their opening eight games where they had three draws. The early season momentum made us believe that despite the journey being long with over 30 matches to play, we could reach the end at the top," he said.
"I am happy for the players who never gave up despite the challenges and I give thanks to the management for supporting the team always."
Nyaberi added that their goal remains to crown their promotion by winning the NSL title. Next season, he says their main goal will be to remain in the Premier League and not fight for the title.
Murang'a SEAL was founded by Robert Macharia in 2016 after he realised that talented youth in the county were going to waste due to lack of training grounds.
Macharia said he was inspired by World Cup champion Lionel Messi story back then before he started the club.
"I got the idea to develop the youths' talent when I watched documentary of how Messi was scouted by Barcelona. It was so inspiring how an unknown talent was lifted to the top of the world. I want to inspire and find the next Messi, Olunga, Oliech, Mariga and Wanyamas," said Mwacharia.
Macharia said he was happy that the team has nurtured talents among the youth majority from St Mary village backyard.
