NAIROBI, Kenya, March 8 – Kariobangi Sharks head coach William ‘Kanu’ Muluya hopes to maintain his current crop of players for the coming years so as to forge them into perennial title challengers.
Muluya bemoaned that losing many of their brightest sparks over the years has left a huge dent on the team and prevented them from performing as per expectations on the pitch.
“The only thing we need is consistency. If we are building a team and we are able to have them together for some time, that would be a good thing. We brought in 24 players this season but we are not always going to lean back on the fact that we have a new team,” Muluya said.
“For the first time, we are hoping that we will have a consistent team. You will, hopefully, see the same Sharks team next year and the year after that,” Muluya added.
The Kariobangi-based side have racked up a reputation as a factory of talented players, producing some of the most exciting footballers to grace the FKF Premier League in recent years.
However, their ability to churn out skillful players has proven to be a curse for the team, which have over the years been raided by other clubs within and without for their most prized assets.
The likes of Ethiopian-based dangerman Eric Kapaito, Masoud Juma, Felix Oluoch, midfield marshals Patillah Omotto and South African-based Sven Yidah are just but a few who trace their football roots to Kariobangi.
Although they presently lie a lowly 13th on the log, Sharks have caught the eye of football purists with their exciting brand of players, such as Matthew Kibiwott, Tyson Otieno, Fortune Omotto and Sharif Ibrahim among others.
Their latest setback was a 3-2 loss to Kenya Police on Wednesday as the second leg of the local premier league kicked off at Kasarani Annex.
Despite the loss, the tactician praised his charges, noting that they are a group of fighters contrary to perceptions that they lack the bite and mental strength.
“I wouldn’t say the disappointing results are down to their lack of mental strength. They fought really well. Maybe we just need to avoid conceding early in the match. Sometimes, we as the technical bench, could have done better to grind out a positive result. This is how football is sometimes,” Muluya said.
The slum boys fell to a 13th minute goal by the league’s second top scorer, Elvis ‘Machapo’ Rupia who headed into the right bottom corner after connecting with a low cross from the right.
The highlight of the match, however, was a wonderfully-worked equalizer by the slum boys in the 31st minute as Fortune slotted into the net after some mazy dribbles from the twinkle-toed Otieno.
Muluya described it as one of the many products of the sexy brand of football displayed by his charges, adding that he was unable to control his excitement.
“Of course, that is good football…nothing much. Football is a game of emotions and sometimes you cannot control yourself. It depends on how you are treating them. If you treat them positively, that’s a good thing. If you treat them negatively, then there’s a problem,” Muluya, who ran to celebrate the goal with his players, said.
A second half header by Sharks’ old boy Patillah and another own goal secured maximum points for the law enforcers as Otieno scored a consolation for the slum boys in the dying embers of the game.
