Why Shabana head coach Sammy Okoth was forced to resign
30th October 2023
The title-winning coach announced his resignation after the team's 4-0 loss against Ulinzi Stars on Sunday.
- Okoth ended Shabana's 17-year absence in the top-flight as he guided them to the 22/23 NSL title.
- On Sunday, they succumbed to their heaviest defeat since promotion after being beaten 4-0.
- The result left them third from bottom on 7 points, just two above the automatic relegation spots.
By Tony Kipkorir
Shabana FC manager Sammy Okoth resigned after the team
suffered a 4-0 thrashing in the hands of Ulinzi Stars in a Football Kenya
Premier League (FKFPL) match staged in Langata on Sunday, October 29, 2023.
Okoth was adored by Shabana supporters since he helped the
club win the 2022/2023 National Super League (NSL) title and thus attain their
dream of earning promotion to Kenya’s top tier league.
However, speaking during the post-match press conference,
Okoth stated that he made the decision to quit since the Glamour boys deserve
much better.
“I am not okay with whatever happened. I just feel I should
let it go, relax and maybe let someone else come and do the job because 4-0 is
a defeat that I have never gone through since I started my career as a coach.
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“I feel the right thing to do at the moment is to resign
because this is a team that deserves much better than what happened today,”
explained Okoth.
However, he did not give a clear answer when asked whether
the problem could be an off the field related one.
“I cannot say because we have been playing well but we have never been defeated as such. The fans know what I have done for the club.
Assembling the squad and getting the team promoted was a big achievement. I leave a proud coach and thankful that they gave me a chance to lead the team and I have done all that I felt was right for the team,” he ended.
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Reliable reports also indicate the goalkeeping coach Collins
Oduor Otieno is on the verge of handing in his resignation letter.
In the loss, Bonaventure Muchika opened the scoring for the
soldiers through a superb header which gave Shabana custodian no chance.
Enosh Ochieng’s brace and a well- taken strike from Mark
Bikokwa then ensured Shabana suffered their heaviest defeat of the
season.
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Some of the Kisii-based club supporters could not take the
pain anymore, thus decided to make their way out of the Ulinzi Complex, 20
minutes before the regulation time.
The club, which has registered seven points so far, dropped
to the 16th place, two points away from the relegation zone after the heavy
loss.
On the other hand, Anthony Kimani’s Ulinzi side leaped from the 14th position to 10th on FKFPL log.
