Former Shabana FC player Dennis Okoth marked his return to Gusii Stadium with a bang, leading the Slum Boys to a 1-0 victory away from home on Sunday afternoon.
The result marks two consecutive defeats for the Peter Okidi-led glamour boys and, worse still, two consecutive defeats at their fortress, Gusii, in the SportPesa League 25/26..
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Shabana welcomed back Austine Odongo, Derrick Otieno, and Bronson Nsubuga to the starting eleven after a short injury spell.
Meanwhile, Mathare United were boosted by the return of Fidel Otieno, who recently recovered from a fractured shin, making his first match-day appearance of the campaign and starting in the right-back position, replacing Sammy Imbuye.
Dennis Okoth, signed from Shabana, made his first start of the campaign.
Tore Bobe continue to be without the services of their star player, Brian Michira, who is nursing a groin injury.
The first few minutes were largely uneventful, but in the seventh minute, Wycliffe Omondi rose highest to head it home for Shabana from a Humphrey Obina free-kick, which was ruled out for offside.
Shabana then almost took the lead in the 38th minute when Mathare United Goalkeeper Kevin Ouru spilt the ball in the way of Odongo, who failed to capitalize after a heavy touch.
In the 38th minute, Okoth found space on the left side after an exchange of play with Brian Ouru and John Nyawir and scored from an almost impossible angle, beating Shabana Goalkeeper Maxwell Mulili at his near post to get the score at 1-0 in favour of Mathare at halftime.
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The second half saw a series of amazing saves from Mathare’s young goalkeeper Ouru, with the best coming in the 94th minute when Gilbert Abala combined with Derrick Otieno to find the unmarked Brian Otieno, who wriggled past one man, but his shot was eventually saved.
The win, Mathare’s second of the season, elevates them to fifth on the table, level on points with Shabana but with an inferior goal difference.
Shabana will now host AFC Leopards in a crucial match on Wednesday. Leopards secured their first win of the season with victory over KCB on Saturday afternoon.