Shabana FC fall off the NSL radar, champs Nzoia win again

Fallen giants Shabana FC’s relegation was confirmed on Sunday as they fell 2-0 to Nakumatt FC in a National Super League (NSL) clash played at the Kericho Green Stadium.

The Retailers hit the final nail in the Gusii-based side’s coffin courtesy of second half goals from Timonah Wanyonyi and Joshua Oyoo to keep their Kenyan Premier League (KPL) promotion chase alive.

In other NSL fixtures played on Sunday, champions Nzoia United hammered FC Talanta 6-0 as they continued to effortlessly sweep aside teams in the country’s second-tier league while St. Joseph FC lost 2-1 to Nakuru All Stars.

At the Kasarani Stadium, confident defending from Talanta helped them see out the first half 0-0 but a first breach in the 46th minute was the onset of a thrilling goalscoring blitz that saw their top scorer Masita Masuta close in on league top scorer Zoo Kericho FC midfielder Mike Madoya.

The deadly forward grabbed a brace to take his league tally for the season to 16 goals, two behind Madoya.

Dennis Ongeri opened the scoring before Brian Otieno made it 2-0 in the 59th minute thanks to brilliant work from Moses Shavanga down the right win. Goalkeeper Kaleb Wafula conceded his third of the afternoon with Masuta whose clever run was spotted by Wafula.

Provider turned goalscorer in the 78th minute as Shavanga made it 4-0 before their opponent’s implosion allowed Masuta his second and Benjamin Muchuma who rounded off the scoring with the last minute of play.

It was a result that surprised even their own Coach, Bernard Mwalala, who lauded their winning mentality.

“I thought it was going to be close and maybe even difficult for us because for now we’ve secured everything we needed this season; we have the title and heading to the KPL so to see them go the xtra mile like they did today is pleasant,” Mwalala told Citizen Digital.

“They had a better first half but once we scored they just lost control of the game. It was in the end a convincing display and my boys keep improving.”

The result took Nzoia to 91 points – a whopping 14 points clear of second-placed Kariobangi Sharks – who have two more rounds to further set themselves a class beyond their league opponents.

-Report by Ali Endere.