Museno FC, better known by its nickname Sambakhalu a word in the Isukha language meaning “stinging nettle” is fighting to keep its place in Kenya’s Division Two league amid mounting financial challenges.
The club currently sits seventh on the table with 14 points, but its future hangs in the balance as funding shortages weigh heavily on players and management.
Team manager John Munala Imbwaka painted a grim picture of the situation, noting that despite the team’s determination, resources are running dangerously low.
“We are in a very difficult period. The boys are committed, but without financial support, it is becoming impossible to sustain the team,” Imbwaka said.
He stressed that the lack of sponsorship and funding is not only affecting performance but also threatening the club’s ability to continue competing.
The players, many of whom come from modest backgrounds, are struggling to cover basic sporting needs such as training equipment, transport, and match day expenses.
This has created a heavy burden that risks undermining their morale and performance. One player, speaking candidly, remarked: “We love football, but sometimes it feels like we are fighting a losing battle. Without proper support, our dreams may fade.”
Sambakhalu’s appeal goes beyond its own survival it highlights the broader challenges facing grassroots football in Kenya.
Many lower division teams rely on community goodwill and small scale sponsorships, but these are often insufficient to meet the growing demands of competitive sport.
Without intervention, Sambakhalu could face relegation or even collapse, despite its respectable tally of 14 points.
Imbwaka has called on the local community, organizations, and well wishers to step in and provide the lifeline the team desperately needs.
“We are calling on the community, organizations, and well wishers to help us. Sponsorship and funding are the only ways we can continue to compete,” he emphasized.
As the season progresses, Sambakhalu FC’s fate will depend not only on its performance on the pitch but also on the generosity of supporters off it.
The stinging nettle may symbolize hardship, but for this team, it also represents resilience, a determination to keep fighting even when the odds are stacked against them.
Without urgent support, however, the sting of financial struggle may prove too much to bear.
