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Revamped Gusii Shabana out to graduate from the Nationwide League to KPL

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Published on Monday, 28 February 2011 21:44

It is Ulinzi Stars 0 and Zamalek 2 in the 70th minute of this year's African Champions League match and, as I make my way to the Press Gallery at Nyayo National Stadium, a seemingly perturbed fan pops up the question: "Where is Shabana?"

At first, the question is completely out of the blue. Was the fan frustrated by the hiding Zamalek was dishing out to reigning Kenyan Premier League champions? I ask myself as I skip past visibly subdued fans in the face of Egyptian terror in front of them.

But the question, irrespective of the context at Nyayo on January 29, is genuine.

After all, whenever the golden years of Kenyan football is recounted, the name Shabana pops up as some of the best players this country has seen originated from the club based in Kisii town of Nyanza Province.

Current Shabana FC squad Goalkeepers: Stephen Mokandu, Erick Otieno, and Evans Omwenga Defenders: Robert Oyugi, Joash Ogega, Wiclife Nyangechi, Conelius Ongeri, Chris Machuka, Abubakar Karafa Midfielders: Evans Kiwanuka, Ogati Steve, Paul Brawdy, Peter Ogechi, Evans Motugutwa, Denis Hamis, Jared Osoro, Chieta Nelson Strikers: John Nyamweya, Edwin Obie, Edwin Ombasa, Erick Mageka, Paul Anunda, Moris Aluoch, Kelvin Momanyi, Oscar Apunji Technical Bench: Rashid Omar – Head coach, Amanaka Evans – Asst coach, Nicholas Ayunga – Team manager, Ismail Said

"The club is there. It may have fallen on hard times, but Shabana will be back," declares the club patron, Don Bosco Ooga Gichana.

"We have set ourselves a time frame within which Gusii Shabana will qualify for the Kenyan Premier League. And that is as early as next season," Gichana told FeverPitch.

He added: "All we are working towards with the second tier league stakeholders is to ensure the Nationwide League is efficiently run without the ills that bedeviled the previous one where teams were aggrieved."

"Several like-minded people are working towards a good Nationwide League. And if that comes to fruition, and given the investment we have put into the team, we should return to the top division because that is where we belong."

A combination of factors, including political interference and infighting within the team, led to the eventual relegation of the pride of Gusii at the end of the 2006 KPL season.

But even in wilderness, questions still linger as to whether the present team, Gusii Shabana United FC, is the same Shabana the fan at Nyayo Stadium was asking about.

According to current officials, it is the same club that was formed in 1982 by businessman Dogo Khan of Shabana Hardware and General Stores Ltd.  It is the same team that went on to join the Premier League in 1985 boasting such players as Richard Otambo, Henry Motego, Nyandoro, and Ken Kenyatta among others. 

In 1988, it represented Kenya in Africa Cup Winners Cup, where they lost out to Zambia’s Kabwe Warriors. The intervening years, however, saw plummeting of fortunes leading up to the relegation. But like the white knight in shining armour became the Don Bosco Foundation last year.

Under the stewardship of Gichana, the foundation took over full sponsorship of the club Gusii Shabana FC, which at the time was taking part in the Nationwide Division Two League. The sponsorship enabled the team to earn a promotion to the Nationwide League One.

The foundation also bought a van that transports players and officials to their home and away matches and the organisation promises to continue supporting the community-based club in its quest to qualify for the now prestigious Kenyan Premier League.

The team headquarters is in Kisii town and its home and training ground is Gusii Stadium.

Last season in the Nationwide League Two, the team emerged winners, registering 69 points and 56 goals in the 16-team league. Having streamlined operations at the club, the current office is working harmoniously.