BACK TO KPL: Shabana beat Finlays to return to top tier league

Fans celebrate with Shabana FC Goalkeeper Suleiman Mwasiri after a 2-0 victory against Finlays Horticulture FC from Kericho.

After a long time in the cold, Shabana FC have finally made it to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) after beating Finlays Horticulture 2-0 at Gusii stadium yesterday.

The 2-0 victory means that Shabana finished top of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One league with 49 points.

Gusii Stadium was filled to capacity as fans thronged to the facility to witness the possible return of Shabana to the KPL.

Goals from Sunday Mutuku in the third minute and Francis Ochola in the 33rd minute were enough to give Shabana the much needed victory that saw them through to the KPL next season.

It was a historical moment for the club that has been in the cold for almost eight years.

Efforts by the visiting team to press on in the second half were thwarted by exceptional skills from the goalkeeper, Suleiman Mwasiri.

In the 87th minute,  Suleiman had to do his best work to save a free-kick from Finalys, a side that looked solid in its midfield.

Team founder and businessman Dogo Khan said the team will recruit more players in preparation for the premier league challenge.

“We are very impressed with our team work and step by step, we are moving in the right direction. The team deserved the win and we are proud to join the Kenyan Premier League. We promise to bring back old memories,” said Khan.

Shabana Captain Kevin Momanyi said: “We have now woken up from a slumber and we hope to continue winning in the Premier League. The Division One standards are so high but we are have coped so well.” 

He added that the team needs good governance, commitment, hard work and support from fans to compete in the Premier League next year.

When Shabana FC were pitted against local giants Gor Mahia in the 2013 GoTV Shield, it brought back memories of some epic encounters between the two teams in the 1980s.

Shabana was once one of the best and most popular local clubs, but their fortunes started dwindling in 2006 when they were relegated from the top tier football.

FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya has congratulated all the teams which won their respective nationwide leagues.

Nyamweya said the teams had given their best even under difficult circumstances and they deserved to be crowned winners.

“I am proud of Shabana and Rangers for winning their respective zones. Even without money they gave it their all and have shown that lower teams can compete with the best in Kenya,” he said.