Vihiga FC plot Shabana’s downfall as NSL continues

As attention turns to the GOtv Shield weekend, 16 National Super League (NSL) sides are in action in fixtures that will act as curtain raisers of Wednesday’s big clash between runaway leaders, Nzoia United and Nakumatt FC.

Second-placed Nakumatt FC (51) will have to wait for Nzoia who play Ulinzi Stars in the quarter-finals of the Shield on Saturday as they seek to trim the six point gap at the summit.

Third placed Kariobangi Sharks (44) and KCB (41) are the other NSL teams still in the domestic cup running where the eventual champion will represent Kenya at next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

Vihiga United Team Manager, Arthur Ominde, lauded their second-tier league counterparts still in the Shield competition as his fifth-placed side (43) seeks to jump above Sharks with victory over struggling domestic giants, Shabana FC, who are rock bottom with nine points.

They will be inactive this weekend since their designated opponents, West Kenya Sugar were expelled from the NSL that enters its 24th round.

“Sometimes we’re scared of looking at the table. It kills our team morale because when I went through it yesterday (Thursday) it looked like Nzoia had already won the league.

“We have a group of young players who are very eager to learn. Motivation has always been the key for them and so to tell them they desperately need a point to catch up with their next opponents is not the best motivation,” Ominde told Citizen Digital.

He added that despite this being their first season in the second-tier league, they have performed beyond their expectations.

“There are no newcomers, veterans or strugglers in this league. Every team has shown time and again that they, in their own way, deserve to be in the league,” he added.

Ominde refused to undermine their weekend opponents, Shabana, who come into the fixture after losing five straight matches to leave them seven points from safety and 18th place occupied by St. Joseph FC (16).

“Apart from Nakumatt I can say that they have the most experienced players in the league. They have top quality players so we cannot underestimate their strength,” he added.

Shabana Team Manager, Peter Omwando, said all hope is not yet lost of retaining their place in the second tier after a campaign that started late when they battled through courts to be reinstated to the NSL.

“These players won’t tell you but we know they are highly de-motivated. We do not have a sponsor and although we are still on the lookout, we cannot guarantee that we’ll find one.

“We still have 15 games to go and if we take each of those seriously then we will definitely stay up the league,” Omwando underlined.

Fourth-placed Zoo Kericho FC who let in three second half goals to go down 3-0 away at Sharks play Palos FC on Sunday and have a chance of surpassing the Nairobi-based club should they win and Vihiga fail to get a positive result.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday

Police FC vs St Joseph FC

Moyas FC vs Nairobi Stima

Zoo Kericho FC vs Palos FC

Sunday

Ligi Ndogo vs FC Talanta

Wazito FC vs Oserian

Agrochemicals vs Bidco United

Nakuru AllStars vs Modern Coast Rangers

Shabana vs Vihiga United