Shabana coach Sammy Omollo Pamzo has teared into the match officials decision to go AWOL which led to their home clash against Posta Rangers to be called off in embarrasing manner.
Shabana head coach Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo has expressed frustration following the abrupt suspension of their highly anticipated Kenyan Premier League match against Posta Rangers on September 10.
The game, set to take place at Gusii Stadium, was called off in an unprecedented fashion after match officials failed to show up, a situation Pamzo blames for causing "abnormal football distraction."
Pamzo, a former Kenyan international, did not hold back in criticizing the referees, stating that their no-show left his team in an awkward and unprecedented situation.
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"Everybody was disappointed because we were ready to play a Premier League match at the Gusii Stadium after 18 years of waiting," Pamzo lamented to Citizen Digital.
"The referees who were to officiate the match carry all the blame because we did a pre-match mortem and agreed on the team’s arrival and the kick-off time, but on arrival, they were nowhere to be seen."
The coach emphasised on the need to make serious sanctions on the said officials to avoid normalisation such occurrences in Kenyan football, as the impact on teams and fans is significant.
Shabana fans, who had eagerly anticipated the first Premier League match in Gusii Stadium in nearly two decades, were left disappointed but displayed commendable calmness, something Pamzo was quick to acknowledge.
"It is important to appreciate the fans because after the incident, they did not cause any chaos," he noted, adding, "We still need our fans in our upcoming matches, and I want to urge them not to lose hope because the team will always work to their best."
The peaceful conduct of the Shabana fans came at a critical time for the club, especially after they were recently accused of vandalizing facilities at Ulinzi Sports Complex during a dramatic 2-2 draw with Ulinzi Stars.
Following that incident, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) imposed several sanctions on the club, including ordering them to play five matches without fans.
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However, Shabana managed to obtain court orders that temporarily lifted the ban, allowing fans into the stadium for the suspended match against Posta Rangers.
Pamzo's comments reflect his desire for fans to remain level-headed and support the team despite recent setbacks. "We still need our fans, and I call for sobriety among the Shabana faithful at all times," he stressed.