Why Okidi is confident of dethroning Kenya Police FC after ending five-game winless run

Shabana FC head coach Peter Okidi believes his team can still win the FKF Premier League title, moments after leading them to their first win since September on Sunday, 9 November.

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Okidi, days after Shabana had posted a perfect start to the season with two successive wins, pronounced that The Glamour Boys were prime to lift the championship, saying that was their focus, and were not going to backtrack.

Shabana coach Okidi vows relentless push for FKF Premier League title

Those sentiments were questioned in the following weeks as Shabana went through their toughest spell since Okidi took over the side, going five games without a win, and hopes of silverware looking dim.

On Sunday, however, the once-maligned head coach was the name on the mouth of every visiting fan for good reason, as he engineered a priceless 1-0 win over Ulinzi Stars, a result that ended their slump, and gave Okidi reason to push back to the support, all while doubling down on his previous messaging.

FKFPL: Okola header ends Shabana's five-game winless run as Ulinzi's woes under Ocholla persist

“I believe the things we talked about at the beginning of the season are still in our hands,” Okidi told Azam TV, responding to a question on how the win had turned around his perception with the fans.

“They [fans] need to be patient. There are times when the team is down, and times when they are flying. We have been poor in the recent games, but I believe this win is our starting point.”

An early goal from Mark Okola was all it took for Shabana to finally get their third win of the season, a result that pushed them up to seventh on the log with 11 points, five behind leaders Gor Mahia, who still have a game in hand.

“That was a good fight from the boys,” Okidi said of the win at Ulinzi Sports Complex. “The players and technical bench have worked so well during the week, and I appreciate the effort they put in. Our defense, especially, stood up so well, and showed perfect character.”

Okidi, being the assistant coach of the national U17 boys national team - Junior Stars - is expected to sit out of club duties for the coming weeks, with Kenya taking part in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers, from Saturday, 15 November to Tuesday, 2 December, in Ethiopia.

On his absence from Shabana, he said: “I trust the technical bench led by assistant coach Bernard Mwalala to lead the side, they are doing a good job.”