Posta Rangers head coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno looks on as midfielders Caleb Olilo and Brian 'Supa Rio' Ochieng during training/HANDOUT Shabana and Posta Rangers launch their SportPesa League campaigns on Saturday with a high-stakes clash at Wang’uru Stadium, both sides determined to make an early statement.
The 3 pm encounter pits teams who endured contrasting fortunes last season. Shabana finished fifth on 53 points, while Posta Rangers spent much of the campaign fighting to avoid relegation, only securing their top-flight status in the closing stages.
The Mailmen are now hoping for a fresh start under returning coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno, who believes an encouraging pre-season has laid the foundation for a more competitive campaign. “We have had a great pre-season, and everything has gone as planned.
The players have worked hard, shown commitment, and the preparations have given us a good foundation for the season. I think we are ready,” Zico said. He knows, however, that Shabana will provide a stern opening test, particularly with the Tore Bobe faithful expected to turn Wang’uru into a wall of noise and colour.
Shabana, meanwhile, have entered a new era under Egyptian coach Ahmed Fathi Abdalla Ibrahim, the first Egyptian tactician to take charge of a Kenyan top-flight side. Fathi has used the pre-season to impose his philosophy, demanding tactical discipline, physical intensity and quick attacking transitions as he seeks to transform the Kisii-based side into genuine title contenders.
“The players have worked very well during the preparations. They have shown a sharp mentality; they understand what we want from them, and they are ready to sacrifice for the team. Now it is time for us to show our true identity on the pitch,” Fathi said.
The Egyptian is refusing to settle for Shabana’s fifth-place finish last season, insisting the club has its sights set much higher. “We respect Posta Rangers because they are a good team and they have a very experienced coach, but we have our own objectives. We have prepared well, and we want to start the season with a positive result because every match is important when you have ambitions of competing for the title,” Fathi said.
For Zico, the priority is to ensure Posta Rangers do not repeat last season’s struggles. The coach has worked on consistency, physical conditioning and defensive organisation while encouraging his players to attack quickly when opportunities arise. “We know what happened last season and we do not want to repeat that situation.
This is a new season; we have worked on different areas of the team, and the players understand what is expected of them. We want to compete, we want to be consistent, and we want to finish much higher than we did last season,” he said.
Saturday’s fixture also renews a rivalry that has produced mixed fortunes in recent meetings. Shabana hold the latest bragging rights after a 2-0 away victory on February 14, but Posta Rangers won 2-1 in October 2025 and also claimed a 2-1 victory in February last year.
Fathi is wary of reading too much into those results and has urged his players to remain focused from the opening whistle. “We cannot look at what happened last season and think it will decide this match. Football is different every day. We have to be focused, play with courage and fight for every ball because Posta Rangers will also come with a strong mentality,” he said.
The Wang’uru encounter will offer the first real examination of both coaches’ pre-season work, with Zico seeking an opening-day result to kick-start Posta Rangers’ rebuilding project and Fathi eager to see his new-look Shabana side translate promise into competitive action.
“We want to start well and build from there as the season progresses,” Zico said. Fathi is also counting on Shabana supporters to provide an extra push. “The supporters have a big role to play because Shabana is a club with passionate fans. We want them to come and support us, but the players have the responsibility to give fans something to celebrate. We want to fight for the three points and begin this season in the right way,” he said.
At Wang’uru, Shabana’s new ambitions will meet Posta Rangers’ determination to put last season’s survival drama behind them, setting the stage for an intriguing opening-day contest.
