Kariobangi Sharks boss William ‘Kanu’ Muluya faces a defining test at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday against AFC Leopards with his side’s Premier League status on the line.
Despite the contrast in ambitions—with Leopards second on 56 points and Sharks 14th on 25 points, just four above the drop zone—the clash carries a unique connection, with five Ingwe players having previously featured for Sharks.
Leopards are chasing ground on table-toppers Gor Mahia, but for Muluya, the mission is far more urgent, gathering enough points to guarantee survival.
“We respect the fact that they (Leopards) are trying to go for the league title, but we also have our own battles, mainly to secure enough points for us to be safe,” he said.
Several ex-Sharks players have settled into key roles at AFC Leopards, strengthening the squad in multiple areas on both ends of the pitch following recent transfers.
“We understand that they have four players who have been with us in the past —that is Frederick Alushula, Sydney Lokale, Tyson Otieno and Julius Masaba,” he noted.
However, Muluya believes the emotional context will not soften the contest, expecting instead a high-intensity battle shaped by the occasion and the crowd’s energy.
“I think it will be a game where all the players will come ready to compete. Sometimes you also want to play in front of a crowd, and we understand that their fans are doing well currently. So we believe they will have the 12th man as a boost,” he said.
However, he was quick to shift the focus from external pressure to internal mindset. “For us, the 12th man should be our mentality. Sometimes when you talk about pressure, you fail to perform, but I will take it as a challenge, not pressure.”
As the season enters its final stretch with nine matches to play, Muluya has demanded heightened focus, warning that no point can be taken for granted. “We need maximum concentration in all the nine remaining games,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Muluya reflected on what he termed a tough season, shaped by difficult circumstances, particularly the departure of key players.
“We are struggling because we let go of our entire first 11 last season, including Byron Otieno, who went to KCB and Keith Imbali, who left for Shabana,” he said. “We are just victims of our own success.”
He remains convinced that his side has the character to grind through the remainder of the season, despite the growing strain of the campaign. “It has been a tough one. There’s no day we have rested or had a proper breather. We are always going into games knowing that we have points at stake and our league position at stake,” he said.
