Games and Sports
Shabana in Trouble As First Leg Ends
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- Published on Sunday, 22 July 2007 22:54
Not that things were any better with Matundura in charge. Indeed, there were more complaints from players over unpaid salaries and allowances then than now.
But the clubs' basic problems of lack of a financial and administrative base have persisted. Elective posts in the club's management have been hawked around to prospective candidates but drawn little interest. Actually, just like AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, nobody wants to touch Shabana as an official as that means bankrolling the club singlehandedly
A Nairobi Lawyer Lumumba Nyaberi was elected chairman in absentia in an election early this year but resigned from the post in less than a month. The founder chairman of the club Dogo Khan has been financing the club since then but has now thrown in the towel.
The Kisii businessman has now asked the club to appoint a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the club since he will no longer be financing the club's operations.
"I have been stretched to the limit and cannot go beyond this," he said in a press statement early this week.
The club's problems have been compounded by a reported mysterious disappearance of gate receipts during the teams last two home matches.
But despite these hitches, Shabana has clung on, returning some spectacular results like their 1-0 win over Gor Mahia last weekend. Gor went to Gusii on a high after breaking Oserian's unbeaten league record with a 2-1 win the previous weekend but found Shabana in no mood to capitulate.
Now without the financial support of the Khan, the team is in danger of not honouring their fixture against Oserian in Naivasha this afternoon. Khan however insists the players are not discouraged by these developments. "I leave the club at a time when all players's salaries and allowances have paid upto June 30 and the players are in good spirits and shape," says Khan.
So Oserian had better beware. Shabana have never been known cave in on the pitch even when they have administrative problems. The flowermen will also have to be alert when they take on the hard-tackling armed forces side Ulinzi Stars tomorrow. The soldiers have been known to cow even the best sides into submission with their physical game.
After treating fans to some breathtaking football last weekend, Tusker and Mathare are back in action at home. The two sides will be swopping the only two upcountry teams visiting the city this weekend.
Mathare host Chemelil at Kasarani today while Tusker take on Nzoia at Ruaraka. Tomorrow, Nzoia will be at Kasarani against Mathare for their last match of the first leg as Chemelil wrap up their first leg fixtures against Tusker at Ruaraka.
Having dropped more points, Mathare need to win this weekend and in their last match of the first leg against Kenya Commercial Bank to get into a better fighting position when the second leg starts.
Tusker on the other hand, are vying for a place in an increasingly crowded upper section of the league standings where Oserian, Mumias and AFC Leopards are all tying on points.
"The race is so tight and that makes the whole season exciting. We are prepared again and we want to win this weekend to strengthen our position," said Tusker coach Jacob Mulee. He said international goalkeeper Victor Onyango and defender Harold Ndege are expected back in the first team after sitting out last weekend due to Malaria.
Full weekend fixture: Today; Mathare United v Chemelil (Kasarani), Ulinzi v Nakuru Police (Afraha), Telkom v Mumias (Kisumu), Tusker v Nzoia (Ruaraka), Oserian v Shabana (Naivasha)
Sunday; Mathare v Nzoia (Kasarani), Tusker v Chemelil (Ruaraka) and Ulinzi v Oserian.
