Tore Bobe are currently embroiled in a tussle over who is the bonafide holder of the prestigious club title.
The tussle over the position of patron at newly-promoted Shabana FC seems far from over following conflicting sentiments from club chairman Jared Nivaton and former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Sam Nyamweya.
Nyamweya has for a long time insisted that he is the bonafide patron of Tore Bobe but the current leadership does not agree with those thoughts and last month installed Kisii Governor Simba Arati in the position.
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The Kisii community has taken Tore Bobe to heart over the years but it would not have been ‘their own’ had it not cost its founder big time.
“When we were in the era of Societies Act and even now when it is the Sports Act, there is nowhere the title patron is included in the club registration’s certificate. That is an honour we give to somebody,” Shabana chairman Jared Nivaton told Radio 47 on Sunday.
“It can be a leader who is resourceful to the club, one whom we can say has helped us in whichever way. All this time I have been here, there was no time I called anyone and told them I have made you Shabana patron.
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K’Ogalo will begin the 2023-24 campaign against Batoto Ba Mungu while Tore Bobe have Kariobangi Sharks on matchday one.
“The first time we have sat down and said we have a patron was the time we gave the certificate to Governor Simba Arati. So, all those other names have not come from me.”
Nivaton’s sentiments drew the ire of Nyamweya who insists he was ‘duly elected’ patron of the club following an Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in 2011.
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The experienced football administrator is among the high-ranking officials running the NSL side.
“I have been with Shabana FC since I was elected chairman unopposed at an AGM held on June 29, 2005, at Gusii Stadium. The minutes were confirmed by the office of the Registrar of Societies by a letter dated July 15, 2005,” Nyamweya said via a statement on Monday.
“I steered the club to greater heights at the helm as the chairman and expanded our fanbase and quality of football in general to become the top three in fanbase behind Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards and I was also founder member of Kenyan Premier League.
“In 2011, I vied as president of FKF and won with a resounding victory and relinquished my position as chairman of Shabana and an AGM was called and held on August 11, 2011. In the AGM above mentioned, I was duly elected as patron of Shabana FC.
“On January 28, 2014, the office of registrar of Societies in their letter to Shabana FC outlined the officials of Shabana FC and it confirms that I was the patron then. I wish to put the record straight that some people given the success of Shabana FC are now trying to joyride and impose themselves on the club.”
Arati was installed at a function held at a Nairobi hotel last month when he hosted the team to dinner after they had secured promotion to the top tier after a 17-year absence and used the opportunity to unveil the club’s new sponsor, believed to be betting firm Bangbet.
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Tore Bobe are exploring alternative venues to host their Premier League fixtures after what was witnessed at Gusii Stadium last weekend.
Leadership wrangles were largely blamed for Tore Bobe’s many years in the wilderness and the current noise is perhaps not what they need especially now when they are planning for life in the more daunting Premier League.