Kariobangi Sharks captain Patillah Omoto has warned his teammates not to underestimate Mombasa United when the two sides meet in the first leg of the SportPesa League promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday afternoon.
The two teams will face off at Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa with kick-off scheduled for 2pm EAT. The return leg will be played in Nairobi on October 6 with the winner on aggregate securing a place in the 2026/27 SportPesa League.
The fixture brings an end to a long-running dispute over the final place in the top flight after Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United agreed to settle the matter on the pitch following mediation by Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Sharks finished 16th in the 2025/26 top-flight campaign, while Mombasa United finished third in the National Super League.
The two clubs had been at the centre of a disagreement over the promotion and relegation regulations, with the dispute contributing to the delay in the start of the new SportPesa League season.
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With the matter now set to be decided over two legs, Omoto knows Sharks will have to be at their best particularly against a Mombasa United side that has strengthened its squad ahead of the new campaign.
The experienced captain admits Sharks are prepared for the challenge but insists there is no room for complacency, especially with the tie starting on Mombasa United’s home ground.
“I feel we are prepared but we respect the opponents too. We are not very sure; we must work on the ground and it’s the 90 minutes that will decide. I expect a tough opposition from Mombasa United,” Omoto said.
For the former Kenya Police man the playoff also carries a personal significance. The midfielder has been with Sharks for several years and was part of the team that secured promotion to the top flight in 2016 after competing in the National Super League.
With Sharks once again fighting for their place in the top tier a decade later, Omoto says the fixture brings back memories of the journey that took the club to the Premier League.
“Personally, this fixture means a lot. We worked so much in 2016 to get promoted from the National Super League,” he said.
Sharks head coach William Muluya also expects a difficult contest, pointing to Mombasa United’s recruitment and the experience within their squad.
The coastal side has brought in several players with top-flight experience, while their technical bench also has familiarity with the Kenyan top-flight game. Muluya believes those factors could make the difference in a tie that is likely to be decided by small margins.
“We are facing a side that had done very good recruitment and most of the players have had a situation where they’ve played in the top flight,” Muluya said.
The Sharks coach also highlighted the experience within Mombasa United’s technical setup, noting that their coaching staff has previously worked around top-level football.
“They have a very good coach; he has been in the top flight, someone who has been on the Yanga bench. They also have Mohammed, the Mombasa United assistant coach, who has been with Mathare United for a very long period of time,” he added.
Muluya believes the quality and experience on both sides will make the mental aspect of the game particularly important.
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He pointed to players who have already spent considerable time in the Kenyan game including some who have previously featured for top-flight clubs.
“If you look at all the players, basically, we had some who have been here, the likes of Herit, the Abiola’s, so they’ve been around in the game. For me, it’s a game that will be measured based on whoever is mentally strong,” Muluya said.
The first leg therefore presents Sharks with an immediate challenge on the Coast, but Omott believes his side’s preparation and experience can help them handle the occasion.
Both clubs have also been allowed to field their newly registered players in the playoff after agreeing to the arrangement during the mediation process.
For Sharks, the objective is clear: get a positive result in Mombasa before returning to Nairobi for the decisive second leg.
For Mombasa United, the encounter represents an opportunity to turn their NSL campaign into top-flight promotion.
With only one place in the 18-team 2026/27 SportPesa League at stake, the opening 90 minutes at Mbaraki Sports Club promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.