Shabana say they can sustain NSL financial demands

Shabana say they can sustain NSL financial demands

Shabana FC chairman Jared Niverton has moved to deny reports that the club could fail to honor the 2019/20 National Super League season due to lack of finances.

The club finished ninth last season, and a potential sponsorship deal from a betting company was seen by many as a catalyst that could catapult the team in the Kenya Premier League in their second time of asking.

However, with the government crackdown on betting companies seeing many organizations locked out of operation, the club will now rely on the Sh5 million kitty from the county government to run its primary functions as they the search for a sponsor continues.

However, Mr. Niverton does not feel they are going into uncharted waters, having sustained the club’s operations without a sponsor for a long time.

“We are on course for the new season. Basically, we have our players are we intend to recruit as well.

“We have identified the players already and what is left is setting the date when they will be tried out. So on that front, everything is on course, and we do not have any issues.”

With the ambition of making the cut to the Kenya Premier League on the cards, Mr. Niverton has poured cold water on the rumors of there being divisions in the club.

He has reiterated to Citizen Digital that the team is stable and on good stead heading into the new season.

“At the moment there are many rumors around the club because there are players and officials that we suspended and people are making up many rumors regarding the welfare of the club.

The club is doing well at the moment. We had a meeting with the officials and am sure we will try the new players by the end of next week.” He added.

Shabana FC head coach Gilbert Selebwa has echoed his segments, saying that everything will take shape once the ongoing reorganization at the club is complete.

“At the moment we have not kicked off our preseason training to the reorganization at the administration.” He asserted.

Towards the end of last season, 13 and assistant manager Andrew Kabuli left the outfit over unpaid salaries.

With this in mind, Mr. Selebwa says they are set to recruit more than 35 players from various NSL clubs in an attempt to stage a sustained bid for promotion.

“The club will issue release letters to those players that were let go towards the end of last season. After that, we will recruit more players in readiness for next season.

“Initially the trials were to start on the 1st of this month and training was supposed to kick off by 16th.

“The good thing is that we have identified our signings. We will move quickly to seek the consensus of the technical bench on who is to be recruited.

“We will insist on quality in our signings since we aim to qualify for the Kenya Premier League.” He added.

However, the manager has cautioned that the club’s promotion chances will depend on whether it secures a sponsor.

“We were expected to have a sponsor by June, but the recent crackdown on betting companies by the government has halted that deal until everything is clear.

“It is not only Shabana that will be affected by the crackdown but other established clubs in the premier league and other games too. If the companies are driven out of the market, I foresee financial constraints hitting them too.” He observed

The club hopes to hit the ground running when the new National Super League kicks off on 1st September.

Tags:

NSL Shabana FC

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories