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The Nairobian

In two years, Shabana FC will be back in KPL vows Secretary General Omwenda

Football

By Shadrack Andenga | Aug 25, 2017

Shabana FC will be back playing in Kenya’s first tier football League in two years, Secretary General Peter Omwenda announced on Thursday morning in Nairobi.

Speaking during a presentation where Shabana signed a two year partnership deal with betting company Dafabet, Omwenda was clear on his club’s objectives.

“Shabana is a great historical club that represents the Abagusii community. It is a shame that our community now has nothing to be proud of considering that Kisii County is home to rich talents and potentials in the game of football. We are not taking anything to chance as per now, this partnership is going to enable us sign big players who will take us back to Kenya Premier League in two years time,” vowed the serious face, Omwenda.

Chris Harley, the Africa marketing manager for the new betting company in Kenya, with a thick British accent expressed his gratitude for supporting the lowly club.

“We are new in Kenya, but our company has been there for quite a while now globally. Kenya has an amazing market and the love for football here is extraordinary.

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We chose Shabana FC because of its low profile now, but let it be remembered that this was once a giant in Kenyan football. Our aim is simply to develop the game of football from grass root level and I think Shabana FC offers us that opportunity to see football being developed from one stage to another,” reiterated Harley.

The legendary club which was formed in 1980 by businessman Dogo Khan, a man of Asian origin. It once formed the backbone of Kenyan football from the western region which later became the pride of the Abagusii community from Kisii County.

“We are not just an ordinary club that started the other day. We have a history in Kenyan football. Former Harambee stars players such as Simeon ‘Sepe’ Mulama, Henry ‘Mutish’ Motego, Mike Okoth the father to Liverpool’s striker Divork Origi, Henry Nyandoro among many others started their careers with our great club.

We want to bring those glory days back to our home Gusii stadium. It used to pack with supporters. Because of inadequate finances and lack of sponsors we went down. We will attract high profile players who will push us back to KPL.

This sponsorship is a mile stone to us. In two years we will be back to KPL,” continued Omwenda and emphasized that his team will also embark on a ‘bring back the fans’ strategic campaign that will see Gusii stadium packed with supporters for Shabana FC again.

Chris Harley however, declined to disclose in detail what the two year partnership deal was worth in financial terms. But now all eyes from the Abagusii community will be on the management of the club to raise Shabana FC’s profile from division one, Kenya’s third tier football league to KPL.

Shabana FC was relegated from the top tier to the second tier where luck again was not on their side. The club struggled to honor their matches and as a result they saw high profile players like the then captain Mark Ongwae and Congolese dread locked forward Demonde Selenge shift base to Adagala’s Muhoroni youth FC, three seasons ago.

They were forced to play in Kenya’s third tier football and now only rely on upcoming local players and coaches who can survive on low budgets mainly from well-wishers.