Shabana FC earn reprieve despite Police FC walkover

Troubled Gusii based National Super League (NSL) side Shabana FC earned a reprieve from Football Kenya Federation after their game against Palos FC that failed to take off mid last week was rescheduled.

The fallen giants fate in the second-tier hinged on the decision of that match after their Sunday tie against Police FC was declared a walkover for the visitors.

Had the federation declared the Palos FC game a walkover, it would have been a third abandoned game for Shabana meaning automatic relegation according to FKF rules.

The former top flight giants awarded Oserian FC a walkover on June 5 and on Sunday, match official gave Police a 2-0 victory on the grounds Shabana were not ready for the match since the Awendo Green Stadium playing pitch was not marked.

“The Palos game has been rescheduled, we will provide more details later,” FKF media boss, Barry Otieno confirmed to Citizen Digital.

As they had promised, cash-strapped Shabana turned up at Awendo but match officials awarded the cops on the grounds the Gusii based club were not ready to play.

“The match delayed for the first 40 minutes because we had to wait for an emergency ambulance which is a requirement before a game starts. Later the Police FC players protested against the unmarked ground which the match officials concurred with.

“A walkover was then announced,” Boniface Ntabo, a die hard Shabana fan who was at the venue narrated.

“I blame the Shabana management for lack of seriousness in preparations for this game. They knew the necessary requirements as a host team but they failed to adhere to them,” the disgruntled supporter added.

FKF threw out the reasons the club gave for not honouring the Oserian match on the grounds their Team Manager had lost his mum.

The team that was re-admitted to the second tier via a decision of the Sports Disputes Tribunal is in danger of being thrown out of the competition if they fail to honour a third game.

Having played seven matches, Shabana are rock bottom with no victory with a yawning -15 goal difference that’s one off -16 of the side above them, Ligi Ndogo who have played 14 games.

FKF expelled West Sugar FC from the second tier in April for refusing to honour three consecutive games.

Vihiga All Stars and Eastleigh Youth FC were also axed from the FKF National Division Two by FKF last month for the same reasons.

-Report by Edward Mokuah