Kisii-based club Shabana FC have appealed to Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta to honour the Ksh6 million promise they made during the 2020 Mashujaa Day celebrations held in Gusii stadium, Kisii county
President Uhuru and the former prime minister made the pledge after Shabana’s narrow 1-0 win over Football Kenya Federation (FKF) premier league side AFC Leopards in the 2020 Mashujaa Day Cup.
During the celebrations, the Head of State announced that he would donate five million shillings to the club to help them mitigate the financial challenges they were going through at the time.
“I am aware that you are facing financial constraints and in that regard, I will give you Ksh5m while former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will add Ksh1 million,” stated President Uhuru.
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Shabana has been without a sponsor since 2018 when their deal with the giant betting firm Defabet ended. The club’s secretary-general Elizaphan Kerama divulged that they will continue knocking on President Kenyatta’s door to fulfil the pledge.
“We have been begging and we will continue knocking the doors of our beloved President and the former Prime Minister to honour their pledges made to the team during the Mashujaa Day celebrations,”
“We are happy that the President gave us a bus. I could also remind him about the money he promised us. I believe with this immense support; this is the last season we are playing the second-tier games,” Kerama told Nation Sports.
Kerama revealed that the club has been struggling to finance their monthly budget of Ksh1.5 million.
Shabana is eyeing promotion to the Kenyan premier league this season. As of Monday, they sat fifth in the National Super League (NSL) standings with 50 points after thirty matches, ten points behind league leaders Administration Police Service.
Only three points separate Fortune Sacco, Muhoroni Youth, Mully Children’s Family FC and Shabana in the promotion race. The two best teams will be guaranteed a direct promotion, while the second runners-up will have to play one of the premier league sides in the relegation/promotion playoff.
Shabana will be seeking to improve their promotion chances when they visit on form Administration Police Service FC on Saturday, July 2, in Bomet.