Everton Show Should Inspire SPL Title Charge, Sharks Coach Muluya Roars

10th July 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

Head coach rallies his charges to use their memorable performance against EPL visitors on Sunday to challenge for a maiden league title in the forthcoming season

Kariobangi Sharks FC head coach, William Muluya (right) and his midfielder, Patillah Omotto pose after his team held Everton FC to a 1-1 draw before they won the subsequent shoot out 4-3 at the MISC Kasarani Stadium on Sunday, July 7, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

Muluya was impressed with the effort his charges displayed when they held the might of the nine-time English league winners last Sunday in front of a record crowd at the Kasarani Stadium to a 1-1 draw before edging a subsequent shootout 4-3 to lift the SportPesa Trophy.
Muluya guided Sharks to Shield glory in October 2018 after an impressive 3-2 victory over Sofapaka FC to earn the side a first foray in continental football when they represented Kenya at the 2018/19 CAF Confederations Cup
The SPL kicks off on Friday, August 30 with Sharks taking on Western Stima FC at Kasarani

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kariobangi Sharks FC head coach William Muluya has urged his players to use their commendable performance over visiting English heavyweights Everton FC as inspiration to gun for a maiden SportPesa Premier League (SPL) title in the forthcoming season.

Muluya was impressed with the effort his charges displayed when they held the might of the nine-time English league winners last Sunday in front of a record crowd at the Kasarani Stadium to a 1-1 draw before edging a subsequent shootout 4-3 to lift the SportPesa Trophy.

Their showing eclipsed that of record 18-time domestic league winners Gor Mahia FC who fell to Everton 1-2 in Dar-es-Salaam and 4-0 at Goodison Park in July 2017 and November 2018 having earned the rights to play the Blues by winning the first two editions of the SportPesa Cup.

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Goalkeeper Brian Bwire was the hero for Sharks who bagged the 2018 SportPesa Shield Cup domestic cup when he saved two penalties before rifling home the winning spot kick.

Muluya who has now won three SportPesa trophies with Sharks set winning the 2019/20 league title as their target having been impressed with how his men held their own against one of Europe's most established teams.

He is hoping his team can learn from Gor who used their spirited performance against Everton despite the narrow defeat to return home and charge to their 16th league title in the second half of the 2017 under former head coach, Dylan Kerr.

“This is a moment in history that nobody will ever forget and I'm very proud of my players for their efforts today, I salute them,” Muluya told .

“Every Kenyan showed up to give us support and Sharks are grateful. Now we need to maintain the same spirit because we have to go for the league title next season,” he declared.

Muluya guided Sharks to Shield glory in October 2018 after an impressive 3-2 victory over Sofapaka FC to earn the side a first foray in continental football when they represented Kenya at the 2018/19 CAF Confederations Cup.

Sharks went on to beat Gor in the 2018/19 Kenya Premier League Super Cup before putting up a brave fight to win the SportPesa Cup in Dar where they silenced local rivals Bandari FC 1-0.

Despite the commendable trophy run Sharks slumped to a ninth finish in the 2018/19 SPL, something that the coach is not entertaining a repeat of.

“We have repeatedly shown the country what we can do and with that there is nothing less we are going for other than top honors in the domestic league.

“We had a rough patch last season which cost us in the end but we are going to use our pre-season to work on our past mistakes, we will be ready for anything by August,” he charged.

The SPL kicks off on Friday, August 30 with Sharks taking on Western Stima FC at Kasarani.