Shabana FC head coach Sam Okoth has now urged his side to focus on winning the remaining four matches of the season and lifting the National Super League title after sealing their promotion on Sunday afternoon.
Shabana’s 1-0 win over Migori Youth in Kisii ended their 17-year absence from Kenya’s top league.
They sealed qualification alongside Murang’a Seal, who picked up a similar win over Coastal Heroes in Mombasa.
Migori and Mara Sugar will now battle it out for the playoff spot. The team that finishes third in the league will face the team that finishes 16th in the FKF Premier League in a two-legged playoff. The aggregate winner will grace the top tier next season.
The Glamour Boys and Murang’a have 64 points each, although Shabana have a game in hand against MCF.
The two teams will also meet in the league in the coming weeks, and the battle now shifts to topping the log and lifting the second-tier trophy.
After briefly celebrating the team’s promotion, the soft-spoken Okoth urged his team to now focus on getting the league title.
He says they shouldn’t celebrate much yet and should now shift their attention to their remaining league assignments.
“I am happy we won the game against Migori Youth. But we won’t celebrate too much as we need to win the remaining matches and finish the league at the top of the table, solidifying our promotion to the prestigious FKF Premier League.”
Okoth, who turned for Shabana as a player, is delighted for the fans who thronged the streets of Kisii town on Sunday evening to celebrate their return to the top tier for the first time since 2006.
“Making it to the top flight is a great achievement, and you have seen how the fans reacted to the win. It has taken the team so many years to earn this promotion.”
Shabana’s final four matches are against Darajani Gogo. MCF FC, Murang’a Seal, and Kisumu All-Stars.
