'I don't know how the referee perceived it'- Shabana captain George Onyango reflects on costly mistake against Kariobangi Sharks

Shabana©

'I don't know how the referee perceived it'- Shabana captain George Onyango reflects on costly mistake against Kariobangi Sharks

Stephen Awino 18:53 - 27.10.2024

The Shabana skipper gave away a second-half penalty that ultimately decided the fate of the game at the Dandora Stadium on Saturday.

Shabana captain George Onyango is not losing hope even as their wait for the first win of the season continues.

Shabana were held to a 1-1 draw by Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday at Dandora Stadium in an FKF Premier League.

In what was a gritty display, Shabana came painfully close to victory, only to be denied by a second-half penalty that leveled the scores and left both teams sharing the spoils.

The match sparked to life in the 57th minute when Shabana's Bryan Michira curled a brilliant shot into the bottom-right corner, sending the Shabana fans into a frenzy.

Michira’s strike appeared to be the game’s turning point, as Shabana took a deserved 1-0 lead that could have been their breakthrough moment of the season.

However, just five minutes later, Kariobangi Sharks retaliated with midfielder Keith Imbali’s decisive run into the box halted by Shabana captain George Onyango, who committed a costly foul.

The referee awarded a penalty to Sharks, a decision that was met with mixed reactions from the fans.

Imbali coolly converted from the spot, restoring parity at 1-1 and making Shabana wait longer for that elusive first win.

Reflecting on the incident, Onyango, who had put on an impressive display until the foul, admitted the difficulty of the moment.

“That’s the game, it happens. The only important thing is how you move forward,” he remarked after the match.

“We had to be strong and finish the game with our heads held high. Maybe the ref saw it differently, but it has happened, so we move forward.”

The captain also acknowledged the team’s tough start to the season, urging his teammates to take responsibility for turning their fortunes around.

“We have not started well as a team. It’s up to us players to fight and change our fortunes,” Onyango said.

“It’s possible, so we just have to look for our first win, and then we’re good to go from there.”

Shabana now sits in the relegation zone with a disappointing three points from three draws and two losses.

The Tore Bobe faithful will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes as the season progresses, with the players determined to break the winless streak and climb the league standings.