Shabana will be out to silence their tormentors when they lock horns with Nairobi United in a SportPesa League showdown at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Sunday.
The Glamour Boys will be hungry to settle old scores against the stubborn Naibois, who have become a thorn in their flesh, repeatedly puncturing their pride with painful defeats.
Sunday’s clash offers the Kisii-based side a golden opportunity to exorcise the ghosts of past encounters and make a statement of intent. Under new Egyptian coach Ahmed Fathi, Shabana seek to establish themselves among the season’s serious contenders.
They launched their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Posta Rangers at Wang’uru Stadium last Saturday, defying an early red card to walk away with maximum points.
Fathi is busy knitting together a squad bound by common purpose. Against Nairobi United, that togetherness will be put to another stern test. “The players believe in our way of playing and in themselves. We had a plan, and they stuck to it,” he said. “We are a family now, and this is what happens when you play as a unit.”
The Shabana boss is chasing a place in continental football and has made no secret of his desire to deliver silverware in his first season at the club.
“I want to play in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournaments after my first season here,” Fathi said. “We must win the Kenya Premier League or the FKF Cup. That is my mission.”
But a Nairobi United side, equally hungry to make their mark under Belgian tactician Patrick Aussems, stands between Shabana and another statement victory.
The Naibois were left frustrated after surrendering their advantage twice in a 2-2 draw against KCB at Police Sacco Stadium, conceding a late equaliser from a corner. Aussems will demand greater defensive concentration as his charges seek to turn their attacking promise into a winning performance.
“Possession is not everything. We must combine our attractive football with aggression, discipline and the hunger to win every battle on the pitch,” Aussems has said.
The Belgian is expected to favour an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation, relying on quick passing, movement and energetic midfield play. Shabana could counter with a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system, using advancing full-backs and midfield rotations to unlock the opposition defence.
History, however, offers Nairobi United a psychological advantage. The Naibois swept Shabana aside in both league meetings last season, winning 3-1 at Gusii Stadium on January 4 before completing a 3-0 triumph on April 5. Their six goals against Shabana, compared with the Glamour Boys’ solitary strike, tell a story Tore Bobe will be eager to rewrite.
“We must maintain aggressiveness and rigid discipline, fight for every ball and stay focused from the first whistle to the last,” Aussems has said.
Shabana head into the contest with three points from their opening fixture, while Nairobi United have one after their draw with KCB. The stakes are clear: Tore Bobe want to break the jinx, while the Naibois are determined to keep their flawless record against their rivals intact.
