Shabana FC coach Sammy Okoth has raised concerns about the slow pace at which the newly promoted side is beefing up their squad in readiness for the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season.

With only 16 days left before the season gets underway, the Kisii-based Glamour Boys, who will be making a return to the top-flight after 17 years in the cold are yet to sign new faces despite being linked with a host of players. It is a situation Okoth has called on the club’s top hierarchy to sort out as quickly as possible so that Tore Bobe can be ready to kick off their campaign.

“You know very well that for any team to sign a player be it in the Premier League or lower division, you must have the salary to pay them, but we are not in the position to discuss or negotiate with new players, because we don’t have a sponsor, or money to help us sign new players,” said Okoth.

“It will be wrong for us to claim we have signed players whereas nothing has been agreed yet, we have not signed any player, but we have those we want to engage and bring on board but this can only happen if we have money to pay them.”

Okoth continued: “I am hoping the club bosses will move with speed and sort out the issue (get money for new signings), I am told they are supposed to meet in Nairobi before the end of this week, and I hope the issue will be resolved and we will be able to enter the transfer market and strengthen our squad.”

Shabana earned promotion to the league after winning the National Super League (NSL) on the final day of the season. There have been reports that Kisii governor Simba Arati had secured a sponsorship deal worth Ksh20 million per year for the club but it is yet to be made public.

Meanwhile, Education CS Ezekiel Machogu had earlier last month formed a funds drive committee led by former FKF President Sam Nyamweya as the chairman, to help raise funds for the team, but since meeting on the day they inaugurated the steering committee, nothing has been heard from them.

Okoth is, however, happy that most of the players who helped them to win the NSL are back in training with the side. “Most of the players have returned for pre-season training and that is a good sign, so now if we can get money and sign our targets to add to the squad we already have, then we will be good to go.”

With Gusii Stadium set to undergo renovation, Shabana will have to get a different venue for their season opener against fellow promoted side Murang’a Seal FC on August 26.