Shabana FC began their FKF Premier League campaign poorly, failing to win any of their first six matches, which led to the departure of Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo and the subsequent appointment of Peter Okidi.Together with Benard Mwalala, Okidi brought stability to the team, and Shabana now sit sixth on the table with 33 points.Tactically, Shabana typically set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Before the mid-season transfer window, Sam Kintu and Justine Omwando formed the double pivot. Kintu primarily operated as the defensive midfielder, while Omwando was given the freedom to join the attack, creating numerical superiority for the Glamour Boys.New Gor Mahia star enthralled by Mashemeji history, eyeing derby dominanceBrian Michira was the de facto attacking midfielder, and his ability to operate in tight spaces enabled him to both create chances for his teammates and score goals himself. Matthew Tegisi formed a strong partnership with Michira, and as a technical forward who could hold up the ball and draw defenders, he created the space Michira needed to score.However, Tegisi’s departure created a tactical void for Shabana, forcing them to rely on direct play and transition football. Okidi increasingly leaned on Michira as the primary attacking outlet, but opponents quickly recognized this and marked him out of the game.A notable example of this was Shabana’s match against Kariobangi Sharks at Gusii Stadium, where the Sharks defenders remained tightly engaged with Shabana’s number 10, denying him space to create quality chances.##NAJAVA_MECA_8779939##Recognizing this weakness, Shabana made crucial signings to address the issue. They brought in attacking midfielder Douglas Mokaya from Bidco United, and from Kariobangi Sharks, they acquired Moses Shikanda, a striker, and Keith Imbali, one of the best midfielders in the country.Of these mid-season signings, Keith Imbali has had the most significant impact.For context, Imbali is a press-resistant midfielder with excellent passing technique, capable of delivering weighted passes and excelling in combination play, particularly with short passes.He also possesses a strong shot technique and is effective from long range, as demonstrated by his stunning goal against Tusker FC in the 2024/25 season opener while playing for Sharks, a match his team won 3-2.Confident Shabana FC gears up for crucial clash against AFC LeopardsImbali is also a strong ball carrier, with a keen ability to find teammates between the lines due to his excellent vision. At the time of his transfer to Shabana, he had created 11 chances and provided one assist.He had also made 21 attempts on goal, the highest for Sharks, scoring three goals with an expected goals (xG) of 3.05. These statistics show that he not only finds himself in great goal-scoring positions but also plays a key role in his team’s build-up play.Initially, upon joining Shabana, Imbali was deployed as a defensive midfielder, a role that did not fully suit his strengths. Imbali is far more dangerous higher up the pitch, close to the opposition’s goal. Okidi quickly recognized this and adjusted his tactics. In the match against Tusker, Okidi moved Imbali into a box-to-box role with greater freedom to join the attack.Imbali’s goal in that game perfectly highlighted this tactical shift. After receiving the ball from Michira in a tight space, Imbali managed to score, beating goalkeeper Brian Opondo at his near post.Two major updates from latest renovation works at Kasarani Stadium [VIDEO]In Shabana’s subsequent match against Kakamega Homeboyz at Gusii Stadium, Imbali was again pushed further forward. It was from a rebound off his shot inside the box that Oscar Juma pounced to score his first goal for Shabana.Overall, Imbali’s arrival has transformed Shabana’s approach to matches, bringing more composure and creativity to their play in settled situations. He has also eased some of the attacking responsibility off Michira, providing an additional threat in attack.As a result, Shabana now have more options when building from midfield, no longer relying heavily on transitions and set-pieces as they did previously.
