Kariobangi Sharks Steve Mbulere (19) in action during their match against Shabana/ HANDOUTKariobangi Sharks head coach William Muluya has sent a stern warning to Nairobi United ahead of their midweek SportPesa League clash, promising a fierce response from his side.
Muluya’s declaration came after Sharks were held to a goalless draw by Shabana at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani, on Saturday — a result that left him encouraged but eager for improvement.
“From here it’s just to push so that when we play against Nairobi United, we can score and win,” said Muluya, who noted flashes of brilliance in the stalemate and believes his charges are ready to hit their stride.
At the centre of his optimism is forward Markvivan Kesa, who he expects to play a pivotal role against the Naibois.
“I have hope that Markvivan and some other players will get a goal in that match,” he said.
The tactician believes the number 29 possesses the attributes to spark Sharks’ revival this season. “He is a talented player, so we have to nurture him well. All that’s needed is to build his mentality so that he can drive the team to victory. I have very high hopes for him,” Muluya added.
Sharks have endured a stop-start beginning to the 2025/26 campaign. They opened with consecutive goalless draws against Bandari and Ulinzi Stars before suffering a narrow 1–0 defeat to KCB. A glimmer of promise came in the Slum Derby, where they edged Mathare United 2–1 thanks to an own goal and a tidy finish from Kesa.
However, inconsistency resurfaced with back-to-back 2–1 defeats to APS Bomet and Tusker, followed by Saturday’s draw with Shabana.
Despite the mixed form, Muluya drew positives from the Shabana performance. “We made a good stride in the game because, if you look at our previous matches, we conceded four goals in two games. We played against Shabana and drew, so for me, I believe our defence was solid,” he said.
He lauded his backline for withstanding sustained second-half pressure. “I am grateful for the one point because Shabana had plenty of scoring opportunities, especially in the second half,” he added.
Sharks now face a tricky assignment against a Nairobi United side reeling from a 3–0 defeat to Sofapaka but who have shown flashes of promise this season, having beaten Mara Sugar 1–0 and Kakamega Homeboyz 2–0, and narrowly lost 1–0 to Bidco United.
Meanwhile, Shabana coach Peter Okidi remains upbeat ahead of their next fixture against Ulinzi Stars on Thursday.
“We’ll just keep on working. What’s important and encouraging is that we are creating chances, so once we start scoring, we’ll be unstoppable,” said Okidi. “I’m confident that in our next match, we will get maximum points.”
