Ogechi denies Shabana are ‘feeling the pressure’ of league return after 17-year absence

Photo credit || Ibrah

FKFPL Ogechi denies Shabana are ‘feeling the pressure’ of league return after 17-year absence

Mark Kinyanjui 16:09 - 04.10.2023

The towering midfielder insists that Shabana is not feeling the pressure having never kicked a top-flight ball for 17 years.

Shabana FC midfielder Peter Maestro Ogechi has revealed his side are “not feeling the pressure” of being back in the top flight for the first time since 2006 after they frustrated AFC Leopards to a 1-1 draw at a packed Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Leopards went ahead early after Shabana conceded a penalty which was expertly taken by Brian Yakhama, but soon equalised through Ogechi, who has created a reputation for being a goalscoring machine from his NSL days, as his goals from midfield played a huge part in helping the Gusii-based outfit to return to the top flight.

Speaking to Pulse Sports, Ogechi admitted that the game against Leopards was not easy considering it was a derby that came with “a lot of things”.

“It was not an easy game. It was very difficult. We thank God for getting that one point away because it was a derby and a derby comes with a lot of things,” Ogechi said.

“We thank God for the point because it will give us a good platform to prepare for the next game,” he added.

The towering midfielder insists that Shabana is not feeling the pressure considering other teams have started the league poorly and that they are practically “new” in the league, having never kicked a top-flight ball for 17 years.

“There is no pressure at all. We are okay because on our part, there are a lot of teams we still have to play, and a lot of other teams have not started well as well.

“We are still new in this league and we are still adapting to a higher level after 17 years out of it. We are preparing ourselves well and I am optimistic that we will do well.”

The midfielder scored 14 goals in the NSL last season, with all of them being netted in multiple ways. Some were bullet headers and others were balls that were struck from distance, underpinning his completeness.

As one of the side’s star players, he is carrying the hopes on numerous Shabana fans, who will be hoping he can maintain his momentum in the top flight where he has already netted two league goals to help the side maintain its momentum.