Asante Kotoko will battle Kenyan side Kariobangi Sharks FC in the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup First round after the Kenyan side proved too strong for Djibouti’s Arta Sola 7 hammering them 9-1 over two legs to advance to the next round of the competition whilst the Porcupine Warriors were awarded a walkover victory over Cameroonian opposition in the preliminary round.
African clubs like ASC Linguere of Senegal, JSM Bejaia, MC Eulma of Algeria, BYC of Liberia and CARA Brazzaville of Congo are some recent oppositions – historically lesser clubs – that became popular in Ghana for defying the odds to eliminate Kotoko in Africa over the years and so attention must be paid to Kariobangi Sharks FC. Kotoko underrate them at their own peril.
It is true that the Kenyans only thrashed a side from Djibouti – ranked 197 in the world by FIFA – but Kotoko fans must be guided by their recent history in Africa of failing against relatively smaller and unknown oppositions.
What do we know about Kariobangi Sharks?
1.The club was founded in the year 2000 – some 18 years ago in the slums of Kariobangi and started in the lower divisions of the Nairobi league. In that year the lowest league was the Division II which was the starting point for any team which wanted to fight its way to the top of the Kenyan football system.
2.In 2011 the club was promoted to the KFF nationwide league – the country’s second tier league – just before the Unified elections and subsequently played in the unified Division I league then joining the newly formed National Super league in 2013.
3.In the final match of the 2015- 2016 national super league season, Kariobangi sharks beat Nzoia United to secure the team’s promotion to the Kenya Premier League. Lone goal from Patillah Omotto, a sharks homegrown player and captain guaranteed Kariobangi sharks a berth in the 2017 Kenya premier league.
4.Kariobangi Sharks beat Sofapaka on 21 October 2018 by 3-2 to lift the 2018 SportsPesa Shield Cup (which is equivalent to the MTN FA Cup in Ghana won by Kotoko last year) to qualify as Kenya’s representatives in the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup. It was historic as it was the maiden trophy of Sharks.
5.The founder and owner of the club is Nick Mwendwa who is a Kenyan businessman, Techprenuer and the current president of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) replacing Sam Nyamweya with victory at the federation’s 2016 elections. Mwendwa holds a position in Kenya similar to that of former FIFA Council member Kwesi Nyantakyi in Ghana who was owner of Wa All Stars FC and GFA boss at the same time.
6.Robert Maoga is chairman of Kariobangi Sharks and oversees the day-to-day running of the club. Maoga is the direct equivalent to George Amoaho at Kotoko.
7.Nick Mwendwa, the owner of Sharks, became president of Kenya Football Federation aged just 36. He is the most powerful person in Kenyan football now and has ensured Kenya qualify for the 2019 AFCON.
8.Kariobangi defeated Kenya premier league champions Gor Mahia 1-0 on 2 December 2018 to win the Kenya Super Cup title to send another strong signal in Africa that the Sharks have arrived.
9.Kariobangi will play their first league game of the 2018/19 season against AFC Leopards on Sunday 9 December 2018 some 5 days before they welcome on Asante Kotoko for the first leg of the First Round tie in the Confederation Cup. Know that domestic football is still in uncertainty
10.Kariobangi Sharks are competing in any African competition for the first time in their 18-year history. Should be a fun. Asante Kotoko
Are you still laughing at the name of Kariobangi Sharks after these facts?
