Murang'a Seal vow to mount title challenge next season

This comes barely a week after SEAL narrowly avoided relegation, securing a crucial 1-0 win over FC Talanta at St. Sebastian Park in Murang’a County.

The victory confirmed their Premier League status for a third consecutive season, finishing 13th in the standings on 37 points from 34 matches.

Reflecting on the season, Chipo admitted it had been a tough journey, emphasizing the importance of early planning to avoid last-minute relegation battles.

“When I joined, the team was not in a good state. But surviving the drop should mark the beginning of a new chapter for Murang’a SEAL,” said Chipo.

“I’m happy we’ve stayed in the league, and finishing 13th in our first season is an achievement. To improve next season, we must strengthen the squad once the transfer window opens,” he added.

Promoted to the top flight at the end of the 2022/23 season, SEAL also finished 13th in their debut campaign, collecting 38 points—just two above the drop zone.

Chipo believes the club has the potential to become a competitive force in the league, especially after managing a draw against giants Gor Mahia in both the league and the FKF Cup (2-2).

“If Gor Mahia came here and failed to take all three points, it shows we have quality. With the right signings and proper preparation, we can even challenge for the league title.”

He acknowledged that some changes are needed, particularly in positions where the team struggled with depth.

“There are key areas we must strengthen. I’ll give priority to positions where we faced severe shortages. We want to make Murang’a SEAL a title-chasing team. Our goal is to defend and score more freely from the start of the new campaign.”

He also called on the club’s management to support early and strategic preparations, saying this would give them a competitive edge next season.

“I will advise management to prioritize proper and timely planning. Early preparations will give us the momentum we need when the season kicks off,” Chipo stated.

Chipo credited much of the team’s turnaround to four mid-season signings, who brought in the experience required to help SEAL escape relegation.

A three-time Kenya Premier League title-winning coach and former Harambee Stars assistant, Chipo took over after the resignation of John Njogu, who stepped down following a 3-0 defeat to Shabana FC. Njogu had succeeded Juma Abdallah earlier in the season.

At the time of Chipo’s appointment, Murang’a SEAL were 16th with just 24 points.

Murang’a SEAL will conclude their season with a third-place playoff against Mara Sugar on Sunday. Afterward, the team will break for 4-5 weeks before returning for pre-season training.