Pamzo wants Shabana to launch 2024/25 season strongly

Shabana FC Head Coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo wants his charges to start the new Kenyan Premier League season a high, when they take on Bidco United this weekend.

This is in tandem with their mission to significantly improve on their last season’s performance, which saw them escape relegation at the tail end of the campaign.

Pamzo, an ex-Kenyan international, feels they have prepared well for the season opener, but concedes they have a room of improvement to reach the level he wants.

“We have attained about 60 percent of our preparedness for the Bidco game. It is the team we beat in our second-last match last season, which gives us confidence of getting three points against them again,” said the former Gor Mahia coach.

The coach says most of the players who fought hard for their survival in the Premier League last season will be crucial in ensuring a good start for the 2024/25 season.

“I have my fortress in the players who finished the league in quite a strong fashion. That day when we played Murang’a SEAL in our final match of the season marked the start of our preparations for this new season. I saw what they offered and I knew the kind of players we needed to add,” he explained.

He however knows that Bidco, coached by Athony Akhulia, are not pushovers in the league.

“I also reckon that they beat us in the first leg before I joined the team, so we also have respect for them and we know they will stage a good challenge. We are however looking forward to a bright start,” added Pamzo, a former Kenya Police FC coach.

Shabana will be hoping to gain significantly from the new signings; Elvis Osok and Titus Achesa  from  Posta  Rangers, Clifff Nyakeya and Maxwell Mulili from AFC Leopards, Atariza  Meja formerly  of  Bandari  FC and Mark  Ochieng  from Murang’a  SEAL.

However, Shabana could miss the services Christopher Raila and Mathew Tegisi who are injured, against Bidco.

Pamzo has said they are aiming to finish among the top eight teams, after finishing 14th with 38 points last season.

Shabana will also be playing their home matches at the Gusii Stadium once the ongoing renovations are completed. At the publishing of this account, the renovations were at 90 percent, according to the County Government of Kisii.