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There were incidents of fan trouble at Gusii Stadium as the Glamour Boys clinched their place in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League for the first time since 2006
Jubilation was witnessed at Gusii Stadium as Shabana FC ended their 17-year wait for top flight football after securing promotion courtesy of a 1-0 win over Migori Youth on Sunday.
The goal that brought the Glamour Boys back to the big time for the first time since 2006, was scored by Isaac Otieno after just three minutes, settling the nerves of the home side and supporters.
Shabana went into the match knowing a win will all but secure their place in next season’s Football Kenya Federation Premier League with four games to spare, and especially after seeing closest challengers Murang’a Seal clinch the other automatic promotion slot following a 1-0 win over Coast Heroes in Mombasa in the early kick off.
The home side did not, therefore, waste any time and made their intentions known with the early goal.
There was a lot of tension at the match venue and play had to be stopped in the second half after an incident of fan trouble when a section of fans invaded the pitch over what they termed an ‘unfair decision’ and police had to be called in to calm the situation.
To show just how weighty the game was, Migori, who are chasing promotion via the playoff, are also locked in an intense battle with Mara Sugar for third place, both teams tied on 53 points, and needed victory to leapfrog their rivals after their 2-1 loss to AS Assad on Saturday.
However, it was Shabana who walked away with all the points to the delight of their supporters who filled up the Gusii Stadium to the brim yet again.
Shabana fans have been the backbone for their team, turning up in large numbers to urge them on with the club using the gate collection and donations from well wishers to cater for the team’s expenses given they lack a sponsor.
The players have responded in kind with exemplary performances and their return to the top flight looked certain nearly two months, ago having avoided the pitfalls that befell them in previous seasons, when they started well only to fall off in the run-in.
Sammy Okoth’s men have won 20 of their 28 games so far, drawing four and losing as many, while they boast the National Super League’s meanest defence, having let in just 11 goals.
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