- Shabana FC defeated FC Talanta 2-4 to surge into fourth place on the table on Sunday, April 20, at Dandora Stadium.
- Peter Okidi still believes his side can clinch the FKFPL title with seven matches remaining in the 2024/25 season.
- Shabana are currently fourth on the table with 43 points, eight behind leaders Tusker FC, six behind Kenya Police FC, and four behind Gor Mahia.
Shabana FC head coach Peter Okidi still clings to a glimmer of hope that his team can clinch the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation Premier League title following their emphatic win against FC Talanta over the weekend.
The Glamour Boys stormed to a thrilling 2-4 victory on Sunday afternoon at Dandora Stadium, courtesy of a brace each from Brian Michira and Austin Odongo.
Despite consolation goals from Talanta’s Cyprian Mang’eni and Hassan Mohamed, Shabana’s attacking prowess proved decisive.
As a result, the Kisii-based outfit climbed to fourth place on the league table with 43 points, trailing leaders Tusker FC (51 points) by eight.
They are just six points adrift of second-placed Kenya Police (49 points) and four behind third-placed Gor Mahia (47 points).
Okidi Praises Shabana players and the technical team
Speaking after the match, Okidi credited both the players and the technical team for the tactical execution that led to the win.
I want to thank the technical bench, the team management, our fans, and also I thank God. We always pray to Him, and we are always humbled. I can say, tactically, the boys got it right. The technical bench also got it right.
Even the subs that we made today were all perfect. I can say those who played today and those who came in from the bench both did a good job. Today, I just want to appreciate the three points, and it’s a matter of working hard going forward,” Okidi told Azam TV.
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Addressing concerns about the team’s inability to keep clean sheets, the gaffer admitted it’s an issue they are determined to fix in the remaining seven matches, acknowledging that goal difference could prove pivotal in the title race.
“As a coach, I think we are in a football examination every day, with a lot of theory on conceding goals. We have scored four goals and earned three maximum points, but on the clean sheet end, it’s a bit disturbing for us.
But this is something collective, so as the technical bench and the players, we will have to work more on that. It is also affecting us when it comes to goal difference, and with the look of the table, these goals will mathematically be needed,” he explained.
ALSO READ: Shabana punish defensively fragile Talanta to climb fourth
Title hopes still alive
The tactician reaffirmed his belief that the title race is wide open, urging his players to remain focused and win every remaining game.
I will repeat myself again—when we came to this team, we came with one agenda. I think we are not in a bad place on the log, and we have started seeing ourselves up there. So it’s for us to work towards it, because the league is still open.
No one has taken it yet, so it’s up to us to win all our matches, and everyone should win their matches. At the end of the season, we will know who will laugh last,” Okidi asserted.
Shabana’s next assignment will be against struggling Nairobi City Stars at Kenyatta Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
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