Battle royale for crown, Promotion Playoff as NSL season concludes

The 2022–23 National Super League (NSL) title race is set for an epic finale when rivals Shabana and Murang’a SEAL play their last matches of the season in Saturday’s 1.00 pm kickoff fixtures.

Shabana, who have stayed at the summit of the log for vast swathes of the season, enter the final round of matches enjoying a two-point cushion ahead of SEAL, and a win will be enough to secure them the much coveted-title.

Once again, Sammy Okoth’s stable will turn to their ever-ballooning fan base for inspiration when they face perennial bogey team Kisumu All Stars, whom they have never defeated, at Gusii Stadium on Saturday.

In a joint press statement seen by Citizen Digital, Shabana Chairperson and Secretary General Peter Omwando and former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman Sam Nyamweya have rallied their faithful to fill their home turf to the rafters as they seek to secure the all-important scalp that will seal a triumphant return to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League after a near two-decade hiatus.

"The match on Saturday will be very important because it will climax a season that the players and the technical staff have given their best to take this great club from the Gusii community back to the top flight league, and they will be gunning to ice this achievement by winning the title.

"It is therefore important that we, as Shabana supporters, come in large numbers to push the team to this ultimate support."

They also urged "all the leaders from our community to come and offer the team the support they deserve."

In Awendo Stadium, the glamor boys will need a small brother’s favor from Gusii FC, who will take on Murang’a SEAL with a win or a draw enough to hand the title to Shabana.

However, SEAL tactician Vincent Nyaberi is cautiously optimistic of their title chances, with fate slightly out of their hands since only a win against Gusii will keep their dreams alive.

"We understand the size of the assignment in our hands, and we will take care of business from our end and hope our rivals falter against Kisumu.

"At the moment, our chances of winning the title are realistic," he told Citizen Digital.

Shabana are leading the log with 70 points, while Murang’a SEAL are second on 68 points.

The live commentary for Shabana’s clash with Kisumu All Stars will be aired on Egesa FM (94.6 in Kisii, 103.2 in Nairobi) from 1.00 p.m. (EAT) on Saturday.