Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Gor Mahia FC have completed the signing of Green Commandos striker Mark Shaban, Mozzart Sport can confirm. The highly-rated teenager had been linked with AFC Leopards but K’Ogalo have had the last laugh as they have roped him in. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7821741##Shaban, who put pen to paper on Tuesday evening in the company of his representatives, was set for exploits with twelve times champions AFC Leopards and even took to the field in Ingwe colors but a deal could not be sanctioned as Ingwe preferred Rwandese striker Arthur Gatego over the teen.The 17-year-old netbuster was a key figure for Commandos in the last two seasons as he registered several records. He shone into the limelight during the 2023 Kenya Secondary School Sports Association games as he captained a little-known Friends School Shanderema to East Africa School Games in Huye, Rwanda, becoming the second Kenyan after Murang’a Seal forward Titus Kapchanga to score a hat trick in the competitions since 2008; a fete he wrote against Kalangalala of Tanzania where they won 4-1.He was subsequently drafted into the Elijah Lidonde Cup where he turned out for National Super League side Mulembe United and the Cleo Malalah Super Cup when he played for the champions Lirhembe Arsenal with his brace earning the Khayega-based club the prestigious festive season title.During his exploits with Commandos, a side he joined as a seven-year-old boy, Shaban has risen through the ranks to become the club’s leading top scorer in the last two editions of the FKF Division One Zone B league despite limited time due to class engagements.🚨🚨Mark Shaban can be considered a 100% new Gor Mahia player. The 2022/2023 Green Commandos top scorer joins the Green Army after failing to agree a deal with AFC Leopards. Other Commandos prospects Christopher Koloti and Jack Onganya deals to be sealed today#FootballKE pic.twitter.com/eGjGwm4pvF— Brian Odhiambo (@Odhiambo_Brian1) January 24, 2024 Confirming Shaban’s exit, Commandos team manager Jared Anjira said “He has completed a move to Gor Mahia and it was faster than we expected. The deal was sealed on Tuesday evening and he can be considered 100% a Gor Mahia player.”On why a deal to Leopards did not materialize, the club boss noted that “ I did not want to carry all my eggs in the same bucket, Koloti moved to the Den and we saw it better to have the other guy (Shaban) try his luck at Go. Both are exposed to top coaches who are going to improve them as individuals and players.”Gor Mahia coach believes the side should have mauled TuskerHis arrival at the defending champions is a clear belief of Gor’s faith in young talents having roped their star player Benson Omalla four years ago also as a teenager from Western Stima.Shaban will be expected to vie for first-team places with Omalla and Ugandan star Patrick Kaddu.He is the third player to arrive at Gor Mahia in this window after attacking midfielder Enock Wanyama and Bidco United’s Sharif Musa did so.Apart from Shaban, Commandos are expected to seal moves for their captain Edward Mandela to Kakamega Homeboyz, defensive midfielder Jack Onganya to Tusker FC and while former skipper Price Musebe is poised to join Nairobi City Stars.AFC Leopards given until Friday to reach agreement with former technical bench members
