Shabana snap up energetic midfielder Raila from Muhoroni’s grasp

Photo | Kevin Teya

FKFPL Shabana snap up energetic midfielder Raila from Muhoroni’s grasp

Mark Kinyanjui 18:00 - 01.02.2024

Raila, a center back-cum-midfielder, will be looking to add steel to Shabana’s midfield as they aim at completing their survival objective.

Shabana have strengthened their squad once more by completing the signing of Christopher Raila from Muhoroni Youth, making it their fourth signing of the January transfer window under new coach Sammy Omollo ‘Pamzo’.

Raila, who was initially a center back, had been plying his trade for Wazito (now Muhoroni Youth), the club with which he made his top flight debut after years playing in the lower leagues, and had become a reliable ball-winning midfielder under Charles Odera before completing his move to shabana.

Raila will add industry and solidity to the side’s midfield as Pamzo seeks to get the club to become strong enough to avoid a relegation back to the second-tier at the first time of asking.

The announcement was made with great enthusiasm by the Kisii-based side.

"From Muhoroni Youth, the negotiations were fruitful. Christopher Raila, midfield kingpin cum engine has penned the dotted line." the club stated.

Raila, an alumnus of St.Anthony’s Boys Kitale, has represented Kenya at u18 level in 2019 during the UNAF U18 Tournament.

He played for several lowerleague clubs, including Mombasa Elite, and was set to play topflight football for APS Bomet until it was unveiled the club did not secure promotion to the top flight in 2022 given that season’s calendar was voided due to the ban imposed on the country’s football by FIFA.

Occupying the 17th position in the league table, Shabana has accumulated 17 points from 19 matches.

Pamzo had already declared he would not be making too many ‘radical changes’ of the squad when he was appointed, meaning that may well be the end of Shabana’s January business.

“I am not looking to sign like 12 players, that is counterproductive. If I do that, then it means I will be starting from scratch,” he added.

“All I need is them to trust me and buy into what we are trying to do. They should not panic. We are helping the new players to acclimatise because some of them came from outside Kisii.”

Follow our Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more updates.