September 2021 definitely ushered in a new journey for Kenya Police as the rangy forward, Clinton Kinanga crashed in a rebound from a missed penalty to secure a spot for his side in the 2021-2022 FKF Premier League season. Sustainable plans, expertise, cohesive structures and most importantly, a support system is in the current incarnation, a cheat code to what a successful football club depicts. The key spec missing is goals and aspirations, and Kenya Police FC are not short of them.That promotion playoff victory over Vihiga United as it seems, was the key catalyst to them dreaming even more.“Winning the play-off was a big moment for me and the team. Our journey had just started.” Kenya Police striker Kinanga told Mozzart Sport as he recounted his side’s rise into Kenya’s top tier league.Congratulations our boy from Kibra David Owino aka #Messi and by extension POLICE FC for winning the #ElitePreseasonCup Thank You our Fans’ Treasurer #Toma for representing us.#WeAreKibraUnited 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Xh3ZFDJiVa— 𝗞𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 (@KibraUnited) October 1, 2022 A few months after finishing ninth in their debut season, the side is basking in the glory of winning their first piece of silverware, the Elite Preseason Cup tournament, as preparations intensify for the upcoming season. Speaking to Mozzart Sport straight after his team’s 2-0 victory over Nairobi City Stars in the Elite Preseason Tournament Cup final, Kinanga adds insight into the team’s performance last season and the significance of the cup win: “To us, finishing ninth was great because we only wanted to remain in the league, but the dynamics are all different now. This victory [Elite Preseason Cup] is an indicator that our dream of winning the league might be achieved.”A dream is one thing, and the entire Kenya Police side plus the organization is living in it. Also very key to Kenya Police’s meteoric rise has been their wealth of experience, emanating from both their technical bench and from the players. Head coach Sammy Omollo and his assistant Musa Otieno have been in the scene and they know when a team is clicking.Police fc crowned Elite Pre-Season cup winners after edging out Nairobi City Stars 2-0 pic.twitter.com/vLCqDlNT2o— The Sporty Diary (@thesportydiary) October 1, 2022 “The boys are playing so well. Very good football.” Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo voiced after the preseason tournament final victory at the Nyayo Stadium.More importantly is what the coaches bring to the team as one of the Kenya Police players explained, “The coaching unit has been really helpful, we bond together as a family and there is a clear target that we all agree on and hope to achieve.”The bulk of the playing unit is not new to Kenyan football and going by the Kenya Premier League winners in the last decade, experience matters. The club’s transfer window has definitely paid respect to that, roping in veterans like Harun Shakava, Francis Kahata, Musa Mohammed, Patillah Omotto, Clifton Miheso and Elvis Rupia, names that head coach Pamzo is hoping to squeeze any juice left in them for a title run.TEAM ARRIVAL 💪💪#POLGAS pic.twitter.com/wNqm24rE4I— Police Football club (@Policefc_Rwanda) October 2, 2022 What about depth? Pamzo has been frustrated with injuries to his team in this preseason but somehow managed to win a tournament without losing a game. Despite holding himself to the belief that his starting eleven picks itself out, there exists a host of hungry and talented players on the sidelines that have shown the ability to turn matches around.“I am happy that in this tournament, our ‘bench players’ have bailed us out in tough games (against Division 1 side MCF FC, Bidco United and Nairobi City Stars in the final). I will definitely need the impact from those players when I call them upon.”As admitted by Kinanga, who has himself been on the fringes due to injury, the depth around is a cause for extra motivation within the camp; “For me it has been an up and down due to injury but the good thing in this team is that having extra bodies in multiple positions offers healthy competition for places that helps us perform much better.”On top of all that are the fans to supplement the picture. Anyone lucky to attend a Kenya Police game is guaranteed of pure entertainment thanks to not only the renditions by the police band, but also the joy from the effortless dances by the ever growing Kenya Police band. There have been questions in regards to the aggressive and scatter gun recruitment strategy by Kenya Police, but if their performances keep up to the current level (new recruits putting no feet wrong), then the FKF Premier League dream might just turn into reality!
