AFC Leopards were on the verge of signing exciting young forward Mark Shaban during last season’s brief transfer window as Ingwe had reportedly agreed on personal terms with the player.Shaban had trained with the 1998 Premier League champions for a couple of weeks and was at some point, captured riding inside Leopards’ chairman, Dan Shikanda’s car, alongside Christopher Koloti, in a clip that went viral. Ingwe’s sworn rivals Gor Mahia, however, hijacked the deal and, managed to lure the youngster, who will turn 18 on Wednesday 28 August, from the Den. ##NAJAVA_MECA_5694##Shaban reaped the fruits of the transfer decision he made back then as he became one of the youngest players to win the league title in recent memory. Much as he did not get regular playing time, given the competition from Benson Omala, Shaban put in a decent show in the cameos he made and was rewarded with his first top-flight goal, against Bidco United, in the final fixture. Gor Mahia full back speaks on his future after being overlooked in recent assignmentsShaban says, that exiting the Den for K’Ogalo in February remains one of the best decisions he has ever made in life and habours no regrets over it. “I was initially criticised for making the move but I am proud of it. I won my first league title last season and realised a lot of success and growth at Gor. Given another chance I would still pick Gor,” he said. Heading to the new season that kicks off next weekend, Shaban hopes to establish himself as a regular starter and goal scorer. Ouma craving for move to Gor Mahia after failing in 2022The youngster believes he has what it takes to fill in the void left by Omala who joined Lebanese top-tier side Al-Safa Sporting. “I have to work hard as competition for game time is stiff. Missing from the team that travelled to Tanzania for the Kagame Cup and South Sudan for the CAF Champions League made me realise the task ahead of me,” he added.
