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Tore Bobe have had their famous name for over 40 years but what where did it come from?
Shabana FC are still basking in the glory of last weekend’s National Super League (NSL) win that came weeks after they secured a return to the FKF Premier League, ending a 17-year wait.
Tore Bobe are among the most followed teams in Kenya and their relegation in 2006 robbed not just fans of a team to be proud of but the league was poorer without them.
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17:38 - 11.07.2023
FOOTBALL Why Shabana will be forced to play some home matches away from Kisii next season
Tore Bobe are exploring alternative venues to host their Premier League fixtures after what was witnessed at Gusii Stadium last weekend.
The biggest losers were the Kisii community who are mostly associated with the team and have been back in their droves ever since it became clear that they were set to return to the top flight.
However, unbeknown to many, Shabana was actually never a community team. They were owned by Kisii-based businessman Dogo Khan, who founded it in 1982.
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11:00 - 10.07.2023
FOOTBALL Shabana make decision on coach Sammy Okoth’s future as they reveal transfer plans
The tactician had hinted at leaving due to the club’s financial constraints but a lot has since changed after Tore Bobe secured a sponsor
“I used to play for Kisumu Boys High School so when I came to Kisii, I used to go to the stadium to watch matches and there was a team called Olympic Youth. It had the likes of Henry Nyandoro (now deceased),” Dogo Khan told Pulse Sports.
“It was a youth team and every time they were done with the programme, they had nowhere to go and that is when I started a team to absorb them because I did not want that talent to go to waste.
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“At the time, I owned a very big and famous business called Shabana Hardware and General Stores Limited. It was well known in Kisii and even in Kisumu. So, I decided to call the team Shabana.
“Since most of them such as Nyadoro, Henry Motego, and Mike Okoth were still in school, I was paying their school fees. Some of them were at Mosocho, Itierio, and others at Cardinal Otunga High School. That is how we started building the team.”
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15:00 - 08.07.2023
NSL Shabana crowned NSL champions after Onchiri’s brace sinks Kisumu All Stars
Tore Bobe made light work of their rivals to collect maximum points and pip Murang’a Seal to the second-tier title
Dogo Khan says he single-handedly managed the team, using proceeds from his business to bankroll them with a number of players given jobs at his hardware while those still in school had their school fees paid for until they finished and got on the payroll.
“We started at the District level which was the lowest then, went to the Provincial league then in 1985, we joined the Super League,” he added.
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18:00 - 12.07.2023
FOOTBALL Oliech's ambition soars: Can the legendary striker become FKF president?
Oliech has revealed he aims at running for the seat as he feels he did not help the country achieve its goals while as a player.
“In our first season in the top flight, we finished 10th, second year we were fifth and third the next season behind AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia. That is how we qualified to play the Africa Champions Cup against Kabwe Warriors of Zambia.”
Shabana produced some of Kenya’s finest players with Motego and Okoth particularly becoming household names and regulars for Harambee Stars.
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Motego and Okoth later switched to Kenya Breweries before the latter moved to Belgium where he experienced success with Genk, winning the 1998-99 Belgian First Division and the 1999-00 Belgian Cup.
Until the emergence of Dennis Oliech, Okoth, goalkeeper-turned-striker, was Kenya’s best scorer, having notched 17 goals in 45 games.
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09:00 - 09.07.2023
NSL Shabana FC: A triumph filled with song, dance, and unyielding spirit
The Glamour Boys victory and promotion ignite joyous celebrations among fans.
Other Harambee Stars legends who honed their skills at Shabana were Richard Otambo, Salim Mabruk, Hussein ‘Tigana’ Omar, Kisco Kariuki, Peter ‘Kasskass’ Kamau, Sammy Simiyu, Seif Puzo, Sylvester Mageni, Evans Ombuna, and Alfred ‘Fwaya’ Oloo.
Besides representing Kenya in the Africa Champions Cup in 1988, beating Kabwe Warriors at home before crashing out in the second leg, Shabana also featured in the 2000 CAF Cup against Hay Al Arab of Sudan.
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