It has been a rollercoaster year for National Super League followers, who went through what you would categorize as the extreme high and low in the toughest league in the country.The thrilling 2022-2023/ 2023-2024 National Super League (NSL) provided an intense competition spanning over the months. Shabana FC, Murang’a Seal, and Migori Youth emerged as the top three finishers in the previous season (2022-2023), while Fortune Sacco and APS Bomet found themselves facing relegation.The season was marked by fierce competition for both the championship, promotion, and survival, though there’s room for improvement in terms of overall quality, as it was the main undoing in the league known for its physicality.##NAJAVA_MECA_7765195##At the end of the 2022-2023 campaign, Shabana won the cup and the marching orders to the top tier, but the glamour boys fans won an even bigger battle. The enthusiastic fans following the club in every part of the country made the grand old institution of Kisii football bigger than ever before. What’s been constant through all the changes, ownership issues, and years gone by is that they kept appearing in every game in the second tier and inevitably, winning them.Shabana, boasting the strongest squad, began the season radiating strength. At their peak, Tore Bobe enjoyed a commanding 12-point lead over Murang’a Seal. However, as the competition reached its climax, the gap between these two teams narrowed to just five points. Despite a tumultuous journey, Shabana ultimately prevailed, securing their return to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League after 17 years of absence while Murang’a settled second-earning the first-ever top-flight promotion in their history.The battle against relegation was nothing short of a drama, with APS Bomet and Fortune Sacco exiting early, while the third relegation spot remained uncertain since the competition had 19 teams instead of the usual 20, it confirmed no team was going down for a second year running, leaving clubs only jostling for promotion at the end of the term.A Revival of EnthusiasmNSL after years in tight bio-bubbles, 2023 was a year to remember, the second tier fully reinstated the home and away, fans in the stands, and all the traveling. From Kisii to Murang’a, from Mombasa to Kisii, from Mumias to Nairobi, football went local again- and it was brilliantThe season saw an average high turn out with traditional powerhouses like Shabana consistently enjoying high attendance figures. The move triggered other clubs to follow suit and sooner, Gusii FC, Murang’a Seal, Darajani Gogo, Migori Youth, and Kisumu All Stars impressively attracted more people.NSL: Shabana FC dedicates last dance to adoring fansThis was after the final whistle. Consistent peeps bana. We deserve better performances. These fans deserve better. Shabana can do a whole lot better. January is here. @Shabanafckenya we either make it count or continue being in the relegation battle pic.twitter.com/4NghIluv7X— Ruthviona Keraro (@ruthfiona7) December 21, 2023 Embracing the media and the return of the fourth man to the second tier sparked a surge in fan attendance, with the clash against Shabana and Kisumu All Stars at Gusii Stadium drawing a record-breaking over 20,000 spectators. The now-closed stadium hosted almost all of the top ten highest-attended matches this season in Kenya.Migori Youth’s home ground at the Migori Green Stadium became another fan favorite, with full-house crowds and an electric atmosphere. For the people of Migori, the rejuvenation of MYTA and the urge for top-tier football in the region rekindled the border city’s passion for the sport.Best matchThis came at the very end of the season, but wow, was Silibwet Leons 0-7 Mara Sugar an absolute humdinger? There were seven goals, but there could have been ten. Victor Ngume and the entire Mara attackers were in the mood that day and they just kept coming; wave after wave of incessant attack. A match, that probably earned Ngume a move to FKF Premier League side Kariobangi SharksWhat made the match even more interesting was the number of goals the Millers needed to score to outshine Migori youth and pip them to promotion play-offs had the Migori administration express concerns about the integrity of the National Super League, however, the border club managed to outsmart their neighbors and booked a place in the playoffs which they lost to Wazito FC now Muhoroni Youth.Biggest MomentThe NSL produced various spectacular moments this year but some of the most notable were;Kibera Black Stars players walked off the second half of their encounter against Mara Sugar at Awendo Green Stadium which was attributed to dubious calls by the match officials.Leave aside that the decision was perfectly legal, if teams were to walk off every time they didn’t get a decision, we would have no football to watch. There were refereeing issues aplenty throughout the season, most teams, for instance, got about two bad decisions a game on average, and there were pretty terrible calls away teams faced in almost all matches, but this happens.Referees will err again. Just as players do. Just as all of us do. What match officials did, though, was an unacceptable shamble. The only lesson it served to teach was one that most of us last learned on a primary school ground — do not leave the game till the final whistle.Mathare United were relegated to the second tier after 25 years of top-flight football, and thinking of having such a huge name in the Kenyan Super League was mind-blowing to the tournament’s loyalist, who saw an ample opportunity for the league to sell itself using the Mathare brand. Whether they have exploited Mathare’s presence, fully remains a question but one thing stands clear- the Leonard Odipo-coached side are way above the rest and the return to the top league is almost inevitable.After 25 years in the Kenyan top flight, Mathare United have been relegated 😳.#FootballKe pic.twitter.com/gVKQBcEyJR— Kefootball_ (@Kefootball1) June 21, 2023 Biggest what-ifKibera Black Stars. Still the same old dog. They were in a pole position to battle Shabana and end their long stay in the second tier, after the first leg 1-0 win over Shabana, things went west for the then Evans Ogutu instructed side, the slum boys went on a run of five matches without a win and doubled the seasons decline with walkover against Migori Youth, fielding less players against Mwatate United and walking out of Mara League encounter yet initially had been dominating at the time. Uncle Luke had injected money into the team, and it really would have been a cracking season for an interesting team. Sigh.Biggest disappointmentApart from Kibera Black Stars forfeiting their matches, it was just how much of a pushover Silibwet Leons and Mulembe United were. There are always going to be seasons where nothing goes for you, but three wins in thirty-two matches pointed to a Silibwet team that just gave up by the end.The credibility of the league and the consistency were put to task once more. Imagine a serious league where up to nine teams are sanctioned points by the league governing body. Yes, it was the case in the NSL as nine teams faced a maximum of six points deduction from the Football Kenya Federation after failing to honor matches or forfeiting games.Year of firstsNo old guard earned a promotion to the second tier from the third division. Luanda Villa, Rainbow FC, and Nairobi United piped opponents to emerge winners in their respective zones and advance to the second division. Rainbow and the Naibois impressed the most, scaling the ladder at the first time was exhilarating. Luanda and Nairobi have lived to the aura while Rainbow are yet to find the right footing in the league.Luanda Villa 1-0 Zoo FC (Highlights). The former has been promoted to the NSL while Zoo will face Nairobi United in the playoff #FootballKE pic.twitter.com/yvMZeVGThY— Jeff Kinyanjui (@_JeffKinyanjui) July 29, 2023 Challenges PersistSince the establishment of the National Super League seven years ago, several NSL clubs have grappled with financial problems, notably the disbandment of Mwatate United, Nairobi Stima, Nakumatt FC, Coast Stima, Western Stima just to mention a few.In the meantime, rumors of unpaid wages and teams contemplating withdrawal persist, causing concerns and the nonexistence of contracts between players and teams was and is a bad taste to the league.NSL: Silibwet Leons crippled following mass player and coaches exodusNonetheless, NSL clubs are striving to build a sustainable financial model. Revenues from ticket and merchandise sales have shown a positive trend over the past season, viewed as an indicator of healthy operation.There’s a critical need for the NSL and its players to seize this opportunity to enhance their professionalism and dedication, making the NSL a cornerstone for the development of Kenyan football.Despite the hopes of fans and league organizers, the emergence of fresh talent was less apparent than anticipated. The league continued to be dominated by established stars with teams recycling players, however, the year provided us with some fresh talents in Chris Erambo now at Tusker, Sharif Madjabe, Beja Nyamawi at Bandari, and the red-hot Philemon Nyakwaka.As we end the year, we hope that the National Super League teams will embrace professionalism and that the Football Kenya Federation will pump more money into the league to awaken a sleeping giant in the second tier.Happy New Year NSL Loyalists.
