The most obvious parameter a football club can use to measure success is the number of titles won.
Yet, for Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) side Kariobangi Sharks, winning silverware has never been their definition of success.
Founded in 2000 by former FKF president Nick Mwendwa, and promoted to the Premier League in 2017, Sharks have now spent 10 consecutive seasons in the FKF-PL.
In these years, their best performance remains a third-place finish in their debut campaign in 2017.
Their worst performance was in the 2019/2020 campaign, where they finished 12th with 20 points.
Sharks represented Kenya in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2018 and were eliminated by Ghana’s Asante Kotoko in the first round.
The Kariobangi-based side are now placed 14th in the 18-team league table with 26 points and are certainly not safe from relegation worry.
They are just on point above both Ulinzi Stars and APS Bomet. Bidco United are second last with 22 points while Sofapaka lie bottom on 16 points.
While the pressure of winning has seen coaches come and go at many clubs, Sharks have been with one coach since 2016: William Muluya.
It is Muluya who, in fact, brought Sharks from the second-tier National Super League to the FKF Premier League in 2017.
Kariobangi Sharks coach William Muluya with his players before pre-season friendly match against Bidco FC at Camp Toyoyo ground in Nairobi on August 27, 2022.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
According to Kariobangi Sharks chairman Robert Maoga, the decision to retain Muluya over this long period is rooted in a club philosophy that emphasises player development and long-term stability through talent sales.
“Of course every team wants to win the league and the (FKF) Cup, but for us, the target is different.
“Our target is developing and selling as many young players as we can,” Maoga said, heaping praise on Muluya for excelling in this role.
For instance, ahead of the 2022/23 season, the club sold 15 of its first team players to local and overseas clubs, including striker Felix Oluoch, midfielder Patillah Omotto, defender Geoffrey Shiveka, midfielder Eric Juma and defender Samuel Olwande.
Maoga explained that, having realised that it would be difficult for the team to survive on gate collections and sponsorship alone, they decided to change tack by focusing on the sale of players.
One of their most lucrative transactions was the sale of Stanley Wilson to Sweden’s AIK Fotboll for a cool $200,000 (Sh25.8 million) in 2024.
“We have decided that maybe at Sharks, we will be the first Kenyan team to send as many players out there so that we can open that conveyor belt. Our objectives are bigger than winning the league, we are also looking at the survival of the club and telling other clubs that this should be how you run your clubs, that a percentage of your resources needs to come from you selling players abroad,” Maoga stated.
He noted that selling players locally does not fetch as much, with transfers to Kenya’s biggest clubs, Gor and AFC Leopards, fetching about Sh1 million per player.
According to the Sharks chairman, several clubs have already shown interest in their teenage sensation midfielder Humphrey Aroko.
However, he said they are reluctant to sell the 18-year-old as they feel he has yet to reach the level required to command a good fee for both the club and the player.
While Sharks have struggled this season, Aroko has impressed, so much so that he was voted the FKF-PL Player of the Month for February.
Kariobangi Sharks coach William Muluhya gives instruction to his players during a training session on October 18, 2017 at Utalii Grounds ahead of the GOtv Shield final match against against AFC Leopards on October 20, 2017. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
He lies third on the scorer’s chart with eight goals behind Ulinzi’s Paul Odhiambo, who has scored 10 goals and leadings scorer, Murang’a Seal’s striker Joseph Waithira with 15 goals.
“I am having a problem with Aroko because every club wants him but the player is not complete. We don’t think he is where he should be to command a good amount for him and the club,” said the Sharks chairman.
Maoga says the other reason they have kept Muluya all these years is because of his strong networks in school football, which has ensured a continuous flow of young talents to the club.
Describing Muluya as manager rather than a coach, Maoga revealed that the club has no plans to part ways with him.
“It is not enough to get kids from school but then you need someone who has the man-management to handle and mentor them and not many people have that quality. Muluya perfectly fits this role which is why I consider him a manager and not a coach. Until someone else comes up who can pick up and support that objective, we will stick with Muluya,” said the chairman.
As Muluya performs his job at Sharks, his peers pass through the revolving doors of the other clubs
The coaches who have lost their jobs in the Premier League this season are Peter Okidi (Shabana), Burundian Etienne Ndayiragije and Serbian Dusan Stojanovic (Police), Ken Odhiambo and Moroccan Mohammed Borji (Bandari), Michael Nam (APS Bomet), Dunstan Nyaudo (Ulinzi Stars), Charles Okere (Tusker), Ezekiel Akwana (Sofapaka), Sammy Omolo (Posta Rangers ), Edward Manoah (Mar Sugar) and Osborne Monday (Murang’a Seal).
