Shabana head coach on how Mwalala's exit cost them against Nairobi United
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 07.01.26. | 08:03
Mwalala left the Glamour Boys prior to their league match against Naibois on Sunday, 4 December and is rumoured to be making a return to coastal side Bandari FC
Shabana FC head coach Peter Okidi has explained how the departure of his assistant Bernard Mwalala affected the team following their 3-1 loss to Nairobi United in the FKF Premier League.
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Mwalala left the Glamour Boys prior to their league match against Naibois on Sunday, 4 December and is rumoured to be making a return to coastal side Bandari FC.
A brace from Dancun Omala and a goal by Michael Karamor were all that Naibois needed to secure the important victory at Gusii Stadium, as Brian Michira’s goal proved to serve as consolation.
Speaking to the press after the match, Okidi partly attributed the loss to the absence of Mwalala.
“It is an undeniable fact that he was adding much value to the team, and we really missed him. I missed the collaboration that we had.
Ongwae (Marco) is a good coach, but he had barely settled into the team and so could not do much,” said Okidi.
According to Okidi, besides missing Mwalala, several other factors colluded to condemn Shabana to their first loss of 2026.
“We struggled because we played with one number 10, and so our inability to attack well invited their pressure on us. Our players took time to notice that, and we had to add another number 10 to arrest the situation.
They were also good in wide areas where Omala (Dancun) and Ovella (Ochieng) stretched Mazembe (James) and Obina (Humphrey) to give them an edge,” he added.
The former Nakuru All Stars head coach also identified a tactical approach by Naibois that caused problems for his side.
“They played and defended with a low block, which gave them the ability to start building up from their own box, and they used that advantage to hurt us,” he stated.
Shabana will have an opportunity to make amends when they welcome Gor Mahia at their Gusii backyard for a league clash on Sunday, 11 January.
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