Shabana restructures technical bench ahead of next season

Shabana FC on Thursday unveiled the team’s reconstituted technical bench ahead of the 2024/25 FKF Premier League season.

Experienced tactician Godfrey ‘Solo’ Oduor joins the Kisii-based side as an assistant coach, club's secretary general Elizaphan Kerama confirmed.

In the new lineup, there was no mention of George Owoko and Oscar Kambona, who were the assistants to head coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo last season. 

Oduor, a CAF 'A' license holder is a former Harambee Starlets, Nzoia FC and KCB coach

Another former assistant coach Kevin Momanyi will be the youth team head coach to be assisted by Kepher Mogire. The club has partnered with Nyanchwa Boys for their youth team.

Omollo remains the head coach while Timothy Ondeko, formerly of Kakamega Homeboyz, joins the club as a fitness and conditioning coach. Elijah Sani remains the team manager while the goalkeeper trainer is David Juma.

Emmanuel Wanyama was appointed the team’s physiotherapist and Tryrus Onchieku was named kit manager.

The club is also in the process of rebuilding the squad following the departure of more than 10 players.

Already, former AFC Leopards players goalkeeper Maxwell Muchesia and attacking midfielder Cliff Nyakieya have joined the club also known as 'Tore Bobe'. Kerama says the club will be busy during the transfer season.

The club suffered a blow after dependable defender Absolom Aduda underwent an ACL reconstruction surgery in Eldoret. He is expected to be out for more than six months.

The club will strengthen all departments and coach Omollo has assured fans that they will not struggle like last season when they avoided relegation by a whisker.

The club began their pre-season on Monday after the players did medicals at a private hospital in Kisii on Saturday and Sunday.

At the same time, Nairobi City Stars goalkeeper Edwin Mukolwe reckons that they had a decent outing in the ended 2023-24 FKF Premier League season.

Simba wa Nairobi were for large spells in the top five towards the end of the first leg all through to the final set of games then dropped to end up a respectable with half a century of points from 34 outings.

“I had a fairly good season with the team, a group of very hard-working mates who did their best,” he said.

“We were able to achieve some good wins, played some good football too and also had some rough days for learning. That said, I look forward to an even better 2024/2025 season,” he added.