Youngster Gilbert Abala eyes improved season with Nairobi City Stars

Gilbert Abala celebrates after scoring for Nairobi City Stars in a past match.[Naiorbi City Stars]

After a promising debut season, Gilbert Abala is setting his sights on an even better campaign with Nairobi City Stars. The 21-year-old winger, who hails from Busia, featured in twelve games last season, earning two starts.

Despite limited game time, Abala believes his first season in the Kenyan Premier League provided him with valuable experience that will help him make a bigger impact in the 2024-2025 season.

Reflecting on his debut season, Abala shared, "Last season was my first in the Kenyan topflight. The few games I featured in gave me the perfect orientation. My work is now cut out, and I know what I need to do in my second season."

Abala, determined to make a mark, emphasized the importance of training in improving his performance. "I am putting in the right shift in training each day to improve my game. Once I get it right in training, my efforts will reflect in the league. I want to score the goals as well as contribute to them when not scoring," he added.

In his twelve appearances last season, Abala clocked 348 minutes of regular game time. He made a significant impact by scoring his maiden goal in the penultimate match of the 2023-2024 season, netting an equalizer against Sofapaka in a 1-1 draw on June 15, at Dandora Stadium.

The youngster has already registered an appearance for Simba wa Nairobi this season, coming off the bench as a substitute in their opening match against Bidco United at Dandora Stadium on September 14.

With his confidence growing and his focus on improving, Gilbert Abala is a player to watch as he aims to elevate his performance and contribute significantly to Nairobi City Stars' success this season.