Murang’a Seal eyeing top 10 finish on Premier League debut

After enduring a three-game winless streak in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) going into the international break, Murang'a Seal coach Juma Abdallah is now targeting a top ten finish by winning two of the remaining three matches once the league resumes.

A fortnight ago, Abdallah welcomed the break saying it was a much-needed breather for his team, which had played three high-intensity matches without recording a win and hence needed time to go back to the drawing board.

Before the break, the Murang'a-based side had lost two matches on the trot, against champions Gor Mahia (3-1) and Tusker FC (2-1) before collecting a point away to Ulinzi Stars at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, the tactician said his boys are now back in training after resting for two weeks, and are now working on their evident undoing of the previous matches before having a friendly match that will help them perfect the lessons. 

“I saw my players losing concentration especially during the last 20 minutes in the previous three fixtures, losing our lead in the last minutes so the break has given us time to work on this and we will have a friendly before the league resumes in 10 days,” he said.

After the break, Seal will face Kenya Police FC at home on June 16, 2024, before they take on Kakamega Homeboyz away three days later, and end the season at home to Shabana FC on June 23, 2024. Abdallah says he is targeting a top 10 finish and need six points out of the possible nine to hit the target. 

“This is our debut in the top-tier league and I feel my boys have done well. I am very proud that I joined the team in mid-season and they have played to my instructions and that is why we managed to move from relegation zone,” said the tactician.

“Our target is to finish in the top 10. I believe it's achievable if we avoid defeat in the remaining fixtures. I have watched how they have been playing and I have home advantage twice so we must strive to get six points then we see how Kakamega Homeboyz goes because they are tough to play against at home,” underscored Abdallah.

He says the Shabana FC match would be like a final, and will rekindle the rivalry they had last season in the National Super League (NSL).

“They are a formidable force when they are playing against us and on the final day they will be fighting to escape relegation so it will be tough for us, but with home advantage there is no way we will allow them to beat us at home,” he vowed.

 The former Bandari and Sofapaka coach admits that the ongoing FIFA international break has given his players a brief breather after the tough fixtures in the recent weeks.

“We started by facing Gor Mahia, Tusker, Kariobangi Sharks and then Ulinzi Stars, who are formidable sides and we played them within a short period so when we resume the league they shall have recharged," he noted.

Under the tutelage of Abdallah, who took over in January, Seal have won three matches, drawn three and lost twice. Before he joined, the team had endured 11 winless matches. 

Currently, Murang’a Seal are 12th on the log with 37 points after 31 matches, just six points above the relegation zone.