Shabana coach Okidi contends with Tusker stalemate
By Joel Masibo, October 6, 2025Shabana FC head coach Peter Okidi has expressed satisfaction in his side’s 1-1 draw against Tusker FC in the fourth round of the 2025/2026 Kenyan Premier League season played at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Sunday, October 5, 2025.
Shabana came into the fixture with a 100 per cent winning record in the current campaign after beating APS Bomet and Bandari FC consecutively, leading the pack with six points in two outings. The side looked to extend their lead in the league heading into the international break when Austine Musa Odongo broke the deadlock for the Glamour Boys in the 20th minute, after a mistake in the Brewers’ backline.
Shabana were dominant in the first half of the match but gave in to the pressure mounted on them by Tusker in the second as Ian Simiyu came off the bench to score his maiden goal for the Ruaraka-based outfit in the 77th minute, ending Shabana’s winning streak and securing Tusker’s second point of the season.
”It was a good outing, we controlled the first half but got into their game in the second half, and that brought pressure on us. It is an outcome that we never wanted; our goal was to go into the break with maximum points. We are going to rectify the mistakes because we have slipped as a team,” Okidi said.
Regarding Brian Michira’s early injury, Peter Okidi admitted that his substitution came as a setback and disrupted Shabana’s entire game plan for the Tusker encounter. Michira was subbed off in the 17th minute, with his space taken by Bronson Nsuguba.
Michira’s contribution
”Brian Michira’s injury also contributed to the results in a way because the team is built around him. His injury disrupted our game plan because he came off quite early, but the substitutes also played their role well. So it is upon the doctors to give us a comprehensive report on Michira’s case,” he added.
Peter Okidi also defended the mistake committed by Mark Okola in the dying minutes of the game, a defensive error capitalised on by Ian Simiyu to deny the Glamour Boys maximum points at Kasarani.
”We cannot blame him; it was an individual mistake, but he has to learn from that, making quick decisions when in such situations. He played well the entire game apart from that slight mistake he made,” Okidi noted.
Meanwhile, Peter Okidi also added that the team is going back to the drawing board and will come back stronger after the international break.