Shabana opt for Nakuru pre-season camp after Tanzania disappointment
By Luke Oluoch, August 14, 2026Shabana FC on Thursday, August 13, kicked off their pre-season mini-camp in Nakuru County as the club steps up preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) season.
The FKF-PL outfit confirmed that the team departed their training base in Mosocho for Nakuru, where they are scheduled to begin the mini-preseason camp ahead of the new league kickoff.
Preseason plans
“Early this morning, the team departed for a mini-preseason camp in Nakuru. There are a number of pre-season friendlies lined up as the team prepares for the 2026/2027 season campaign,” the club said in a statement.
The choice of Nakuru County as the preferred destination for their pre-season training comes days after the club confirmed abandoning their earlier plans to pitch camp in Tanzania.
In a statement to the media on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Glamour Boys said they elected to return home after crossing the border into Tanzania, only to encounter substandard conditions that forced them to call off the tour in the neighbouring nation.
The Kisii-based club had crossed into Tanzania to line up high-profile friendly matches against Tanzanian Premier League sides, including Pamba Jiji FC, Coastal Union, and regional moneybags Azam FC.
However, upon arrival, a site assessment by the technical bench and executive team revealed that logistics, facility standards, and player welfare arrangements fell far below the required standards for elite-level preparation.
In Nakuru, the team is scheduled to play a series of matches, including a test against newly promoted Mfalme FC on Friday, August 13, 2026, at the Afraha Stadium.
Technical bench restructuring and new signings
Shabana FC enters the new season under a restructured technical setup, with new head coach Ahmed Fathi leading the Gusii-based outfit. He will be assisted by Marc Ongwae.
Meanwhile, the club’s summer transfer business is already underway, with Luis Ingavi and Sigmun Maina roped in so far by the Glamour Boys to bolster their ranks.
Ingavi, a former Kenya U20 striker, joins the club ranks as a prospect after a stint in the United States, where he previously featured for Midwest United FC in the USL League Two while representing Saginaw Valley State University on a scholarship.