Babu pleads with Nzoia fans to lower expectations on young team

© Nzoia Sugar

FKFPL Babu pleads with Nzoia fans to lower expectations on young team

Festus Chuma 18:08 - 30.03.2023

The Sugar Millers head coach says it is too early for title talk.

Nzoia Sugar FC head coach Salim Babu has urged fans to stop putting the young team under the pump because they still have much to learn.

With the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) heading to Round 22, Nzoia are fourth on the log with 38 points, seven points behind table leaders Gor Mahia.

Babu says they are looking forward to winning the remaining matches but asked the fans who are thirsty for a title to lower their expectations.

"My plan with the team is to build it first and for it to be competitive in the league. But I don't consider it wise to pressure the players to perform because that will likely bring a backlash.

Most of our players are still young, and fans should give them time, they will be able to perform in the remaining matches, and from there, we can talk about the title," said Babu.

The Sugar Millers were brilliant in their most recent game, where they secured maximum points against Ulinzi Stars at Sudi Stadium on Tuesday.

Babu took over the reins at Nzoia in January 2022 after stints in the dugout at Kisumu All Stars, Western Stima and Wazito, where he briefly served as an assistant coach.

He turned around the fortunes of the club and saved them last season from relegation; this season, they are among the title contenders.

Nzoia Sugar returned to the Kenyan Premier League in 2017, six years after its revival.

The team was formed in 1982, and its peak was in 2003 when they participated in the 2003 CAF Champions League following the withdrawal of the 2002 domestic league winner Oserian Fastac.