Shabana FC will look to build on the three points they earned against Sofapaka last weekend when they host Kariobangi Sharks on Sunday afternoon at the Gusii Stadium in Kisii County.
Ezekiel Omuri’s strike at the Dandora Stadium helped Peter Okidi’s side secure their seventh win of the season, propelling them to fifth place on the log with 27 points after 18 matches.
Okidi has stated that their aim this season is to fight for the title as there is no longer a clear division between big and small teams in the topflight.
“The Shabana we have now is one that is desperate to win titles. The players are hungry for success, and all we are doing is changing their mentality to show that it’s not just about fighting relegation,” Okidi stated after the Sofapaka match.
“We can also compete for the league title. We are in the title race because we are here to win.”
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While Shabana will be trying to keep alive its bid for the title, Sharks will be fighting to overcome their struggles as they are winless in their last six matches (D3 L3).
They have struggled over their last 14 games, securing only one win and as a result, William Muluya’s side are currently in 14th place on the table with 20 points.
Their head coach has expressed concern over the lack of clinical finishers in the team continues to squander opportunities.
This has contributed to their fall from a top four position to near the bottom of the table.
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“When you examine the teams at the bottom of the table, they all lack a reliable scorer. Our task now is to bring in players who can find the back of the net, or if necessary, focus on scouting and developing talent from the grassroots level,” Muluya said.
Additionally, Sharks have lost some of their best players including Humphrey Aroko, who joined Swedish side AIK in Marbella for evaluation, Fredrick Alushula, who is set to join AFC Leopards and Moses Shikanda who has been signed by Shabana.
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This has further weakened the team’s depth, presenting Muluya with a difficult task in selecting his best players.
In the first leg, these two teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Brian Michira opened the scoring for Shabana before Keith Imbali equalized for Sharks.
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