Why Shabana is dedicating win over Sofapaka to James Mazembe

Shabana FC claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sofapaka at Dandora Stadium on Sunday, a win they dedicated to their absent teammate James Mazembe, who is mourning the loss of his sister.

Mazembe’s sister passed away on January 24, and the club expressed their support for the player in an official statement ahead of the match.

Despite his absence, Shabana showed resilience, with Ezekiah Omuri's solitary first-half goal securing all three points for the Glamour Boys.

Speaking after the match, Shabana coach Peter Okidi made an emotional tribute to Mazembe.

“I want to firstly recognize that today’s win is for Mazembe. If he was available, he would have played today. We got the news of his sister’s passing just as we were about to commute to Nairobi, so we came here today to fight for him, the team, and the fans. I’m sure he is happy with our performance,” Okidi said on Sunday.

The victory also held symbolic significance for Shabana, as they avenged their first-leg loss to Sofapaka earlier in the season.

“Another thing I would like to say is that we really wanted to win this match because they (Sofapaka) took three points from us in the first leg. It was only fair that we return the favour,” added Okidi.

Reflecting on the game, Okidi praised his team’s effort and the competitive spirit on the field.

“The boys did very well. We created a lot of chances. They too created their chances but did not use them well. The game flowed right through to the very end, and I’m proud of the team’s performance.”

The win was pivotal for Shabana’s campaign, lifting them to fifth place in the Kenya Premier League standings with 27 points.

They now sit just a point behind defending champions Gor Mahia and KCB, both on 28 points, in third and fourth positions, respectively. Meanwhile, Kenya Police FC and Tusker FC are tied at the top with 36 points, with Police leading on goal difference.

Shabana will look to build on this momentum as they continue their pursuit of a strong finish in the league while standing in solidarity with Mazembe during his time of grief.