Belief returns at Kariobangi Sharks amid relegation scrap

Kariobangi Sharks captain Kevinluke Otiala during a past KPL match/KARIOBANGI SHARKS

Kariobangi Sharks’ long battle at the foot of the SportPesa League table may finally be showing signs of relief, with skipper Kevinluke Otiala insisting the club’s relegation nightmare is beginning to loosen its grip, and head coach William Muluya has laid bare the deep-rooted issues that dragged them into trouble.

Sharks climbed out of the relegation zone after a crucial 1-0 victory over Ulinzi Stars in their last league encounter to 15th on the standings with 17 points.

Though they remain just one point and one position above the drop zone, the win marked a significant psychological turning point after months of struggle.

Otiala believes the result has restored belief within a squad that had spent much of the season under intense pressure.

“This season has been mentally exhausting for everyone,” Otiala said. “Getting that win gave us renewed confidence and a feeling that we can finally breathe again.”

The Sharks captain admitted that the team’s position had weighed heavily on the players, especially after managing just two league victories in 18 matches before the Ulinzi breakthrough.

“When results don’t come for a long time, doubt creeps in,” he added. “But now the mood has changed and we feel more stable heading into the next games.”

While Otiala focused on the growing belief in the dressing room, Muluya offered a sobering explanation of why the 2018 FKF Cup champions found themselves fighting for survival in the first place.

Kariobangi Sharks head coach William 'Kanu' Muluya/KARIOBANGI SHARKS 

“We are paying the price of our own progress,” Muluya explained. “Over the years, we have developed very good players, but we keep losing them and starting from scratch again.”

Muluya pointed to the departure of key figures as a major disruption.

“We lost important players who were central to our plans,” he said. “When you remove your top scorer and other influential figures, it affects balance and consistency.”

The club’s strong reputation for nurturing talent has ironically weakened the team in the short term.

“If you look around the league today, you will find former Sharks players almost everywhere,” Muluya said. “That constant rebuilding has really hurt us this season.”

Defensive frailties have compounded Sharks’ problems, with the team conceding 21 goals in their first 15 matches, a figure that alarmed the technical bench.

“We agreed that the first step was to stop leaking goals,” Muluya revealed. “Last season we conceded 27, and instead of improving, we were already close to that number halfway through the campaign.”

He added, “When you concede that many goals, it becomes very hard to win matches, no matter how well you play in other areas.”

The narrow win over Ulinzi Stars, secured through a more disciplined defensive display, ended a five-match winless run and provided what Muluya described as a badly needed mental reset.

“That victory came at the right time,” he said. “After so many games without a win, it felt like a release for the players.”

Otiala echoed those sentiments, stressing that the challenge is far from over.

“We know we are not safe yet,” the skipper cautioned. “We are still very close to danger, and that means we must treat every match like a final.”

With fixtures continuing to pile up, including a looming clash against KCB, Sharks are aware that consistency will determine whether the recent escape proves temporary or the start of a sustained recovery.

“For us, the focus is simple,” Otiala concluded. “We fight for every point, stay united, and make sure we never return to that position again.”

As belief slowly returns and hard lessons are absorbed, Kariobangi Sharks now face a defining stretch of the season—one that will decide whether their brief climb out of trouble becomes a full escape or merely a pause in the struggle.