Just a season after narrowly escaping relegation, Shabana FC have flipped the script in stunning fashion, rising to fourth place in the FKF-Premier League and launching a serious title charge with seven matches to go.

The matches include Nairobi City Stars (away), Gor Mahia (home), KCB (away), Bidco United (home), Mara Sugar (home), Kenya Police (away) and Ulinzi Stars (home).

Fuelled by grit, redemption as well as a squad reborn under coach Peter Okidi, the Kisii-based Glamour Boys are proving last season’s struggles were merely the beginning of a bigger comeback story.

According to coach Peter Okidi, Shabana’s exit from the FKF Domestic Cup after losing 1-0 to Kakamega Homeboyz rejuvenated the Kisii-based Glamour Boys in their quest to have a stab at the title.

“It was one of the matches that we were really prepared and ready to play. We came into the fixture a wounded side following what happened in our last game (FKF Domestic Cup) against Kakamega Homeboyz. We were very frustrated after the game, and everyone was wounded,” Okidi told Flashscore.

“After the Homeboyz defeat, I told my players that we must shift all the energy to the league, and what the players did against Talanta was amazing. You could see the energy, the fight from the players, and our focus now is to win our matches, and at the end of the season, we will know who will have laughed last.”

Asked about Shabana’s chances of winning the title, Okidi said: “Let every team win their matches, but my main concern is conceding two goals against Talanta because when I look at the league, it looks like it will be tight at the top, with the title-chasing teams finishing level on points, and thus it could be decided by goal difference. Goal difference could play a big role.

“So, for us, we want to win our matches, we want to put all the energy into all our remaining matches, and focus. The celebration of beating Talanta will end right here after we leave Nairobi, and we will shift our focus to the next match, then work hard for the next three points because we are in it, we have the chance to win the title, and we won’t relent until the end of the season.”

Shabana’s last defeat in the league came on February 9, a 2-1 loss against Posta Rangers. Since then, they are yet to taste defeat. They went on to draw 0-0 against Mathare United, 1-1 against Tusker, beat Homeboyz 4-1, drew 1-1 against AFC Leopards, beat Murang’a Seal 3-0, floored Bandari 3-1, and now the 4-2 win against Talanta.

Asked about the recent good run of results, Okidi responded: “It is a team collective, every player is getting involved for us to win matches. If you look at our goals against Talanta, it started from somewhere before it was scored, so we can’t only say our defensive line is doing well. No, it’s a team collective. We just want to keep going.

“We only need to go and work on conceding goals. That means improving our defensive line. I don’t like it when we concede goals, especially through set-pieces. We did so against Talanta, and it is something we have to work hard on and rectify. It is all about mentality, and we will work on it. I hope next game, we will keep a clean sheet and bag three points.”

Shabana FC got promoted to the top flight in the previous campaign, having won the National Super League (NSL). They finished last season in 14th position in the 18-team league table with 38 points from 34 matches. They managed to win 10 matches, drew eight, and suffered 16 defeats.

This is a stark contrast from the current campaign, where they are sitting fourth with 43 points from 27 outings.

Tore Bobe, as they are fondly referred to, have won 11 matches, drawn 10, and lost only six.

They are eight points behind leaders Tusker, who have amassed 51 points from the same number of matches, six points behind second-placed Kenya Police FC, who have 49, and only four points behind third-placed and record champions Gor Mahia, who have garnered 47 points.

On Sunday, April 20, Shabana continued their push for the top spot after registering a convincing 4-2 win against FC Talanta at Dandora Stadium. Austine Odongo scored the opener for Shabana in the 24th minute before Brian Michira made it 2-0 in the 34th minute.

Cyprian Mang’eni pulled a goal back for Talanta a minute before the half-time break, but Shabana went 3-1 up in the 61st minute when he rounded off the keeper for his brace. Talanta once again scored to make it 3-2, but Michira sealed the emphatic win in the 76th minute.