Murang’a Seal have made a strong start to the current FKF Premier League season after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. In the 2024/25 campaign, Seal secured survival on the final day of the season.
Twelve months on, that anxiety has eased. The same side that once glanced nervously over their shoulder is now looking upward, positioning themselves among the FKF Premier League’s early pace-setters.
With 30 points already on the board and just 10 separating them from champions and leaders Gor Mahia, Seal’s rise has become one of the season’s most notable developments.
It has not been driven by noise or lavish spending, but by decisiveness, belief and structure — qualities head coach Osborne Monday says were lacking when he arrived.
“When I came in, the first thing we agreed on was clarity,” Monday said. “Everyone had to understand why they were here and what the club wanted to become.”
That clarity began in the boardroom. Less than six months ago, Murang’a Seal appointed Josh Mwangi as chief executive officer, a move that signalled a shift in direction. One of Mwangi’s earliest decisions was to overhaul the technical bench, parting ways with the head coach and assistant coach before entrusting Monday with the role.
What followed was a reset that reshaped the club’s identity. “Change is never easy, especially when a team has just survived relegation,” Monday said.
“But sometimes you have to be brave enough to reset if you want to move forward.” Promoted to the top flight in 2023, Seal have supported that reset with results. After 19 rounds, they have recorded eight wins, six draws and five defeats, a return that places them in the top half of the table.
A 10-match unbeaten run — five wins and five draws — confirmed their progress before it was ended by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Gor Mahia on January 14. Even in that loss, Monday saw positives.
“Even in that defeat, I saw belief,” he said. “We didn’t collapse. We competed, we fought, and that told me we belong at this level.” Seal responded with a 2-1 home victory over Bidco United last weekend, restoring momentum.
“That win mattered a lot to us,” Monday said. “It showed our character after disappointment. These are the moments that define a season.”
The result lifted Seal to seventh on the standings, a position that would have seemed unlikely during last season’s relegation battle.
For Monday, the progress has exceeded expectations, even if the team narrowly missed an internal target. “We set ourselves a target of 25 points after 17 matches,” he said. “To miss it by just one point tells me we are doing something right. It’s a sign we’re on the right path.”
A former Kenyan international midfielder with 27 caps for Harambee Stars, Monday has brought a measured, player-centred approach to the dugout. Drawing from his experiences at Mathare United, Tusker and Kakamega Homeboyz, he has emphasised discipline, tactical awareness and collective responsibility. “My playing career taught me that talent alone is not enough,” he said.
“You need organisation, hunger and unity. That’s what we are trying to build here.” Despite their current league position, Monday remains cautious about expectations, stressing that stability remains the priority.
“Our main focus is not trophies right now,” he said. “It’s about avoiding the last-day relegation battles that have haunted this club. We want to secure our top-flight status early.”
He added, “Last season, survival came at the very end. That’s not a position any team wants to be in. This time, we want to breathe earlier and grow from there.”
The approach will be tested in a demanding run of fixtures. Seal travel to Nairobi on Saturday to face Kahawa Pride in the FKF Cup Round of 32 at Utalii Grounds before returning to league action against bottom-placed Sofapaka on February 15. “Cup matches are tricky,” Monday said. “They don’t care about league positions. You have to show respect, intensity and focus.”
On Sofapaka, he added, “They may be at the bottom, but they are dangerous. We will not underestimate anyone. Every match is a test.” At home, Seal continue to draw support from their base at the 3,000-capacity St Sebastian Park, a venue that Monday believes reflects the club’s identity.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!