Shabana grateful for Homabay hospitality ahead of Premier League kickoff at Raila Odinga Stadium

© Governor Gladys Wanga Facebook

FOOTBALL Shabana grateful for Homabay hospitality ahead of Premier League kickoff at Raila Odinga Stadium

Festus Chuma 11:54 - 26.08.2023

Tore Boebe prepares for Premier League debut, thanking Homabay Governor for stadium use and generous support.

Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) newcomers Shabana FC have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga for her hospitality and generosity.

As the team gears up for their Premier League opener against fellow promoted side Murang’a Seal on Sunday, Shabana have found both a welcoming home ground and a supportive partner.

The Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay county will serve as Shabana's temporary home as their original Gusii Stadium undergoes renovations. 

This move was made possible by Governor Wanga, who not only opened the doors of the stadium to the team but also hosted them for a warm breakfast.

 "Asante sana Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga CBS for finding time off your busy schedule to host our team for breakfast yesterday and allowing us to use Raila Odinga Stadium as our home ground as Gusii Stadium gets fixed. Thank you for your generous donation of 500,000 to the team, we don't take your support for granted. God bless you,” the club wrote.

Governor Wanga's commitment to the team's success was further evident in her words in a post on her official social media pages.

"We are thrilled and honored that the club has selected Homa Bay as their home venue. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the team for their return to top-flight football and offer our best wishes as we serve as the host for their home matches,” she wrote.

Shabana, led by coach Sammy Okoth, have been diligently preparing for their Premier League return after a 17-year absence, engaging in friendly matches during the offseason to fine-tune their skills. 

The team's perseverance has already yielded exciting results, with a new partnership with betting company Bangabet, injecting a significant boost of Ksh20 million into the club for the upcoming season.

Shabana’s journey to securing a home ground was not without its challenges. While the club initially submitted Narok’s William Ole Ntimama Stadium as an alternative home ground, it was unfortunately deemed unfit to meet the stringent requirements set by the Federation's inspection team.

However, the subsequent arrangement with Raila Odinga Stadium has brought renewed enthusiasm to the team and its fans.