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Sevenoaks’ weekend home match is one which will hold fond memories for manager Marcel Nimani.
The Oaks will aim to extend their perfect Isthmian South East start to 2025 when they welcome Ashford to Greatness Park on Saturday.
While Nimani is enjoying a productive first season at Sevenoaks, it was a move to the Ashford area which really saw Nimani fully integrate in the UK after he and his family fled the troubles in the former republic of Yugoslavia.
Often playing in midfield, Nimani turned out for Ashford Town and Hythe but, in the end, had to accept he wasn’t going to make it far as a player before he moved into coaching and management.
He said: “I’m looking forward to welcoming them.
“I remember growing up and playing for Ashford Town at the time rather than Ashford United. It’s great to see Ashford United having such a great rise because Ashford is a great town.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming them to our ground.”
Nimani: Oaks ‘breath-taking’ on the ball at times
PE teacher Nimani is working and living in Maidstone these days, which means he faces a much shorter commute to football after work than he did when he was with Whitstable last term before he left in April.
“Sevenoaks is a bit more local to me,” admitted Nimani, also involved in Sheppey’s unique quadruple-winning campaign in the 2021/22 season. “But distance has never really impacted me. When I join a challenge, I embrace everything - and I do that wherever I go.
“I’ve grown up in non-league football so distance has never been an issue for me.”
Oaks - like Ashford - are on the fringes of the play-off positions in 10th. They are a point behind Danny Kedwell’s ninth-placed Nuts & Bolts but have a league game in hand.
Nimani said: “When I got the job at Sevenoaks, myself and the board had a very clear vision.
“This year, we’re just looking to build the infrastructure of the club and looking to stay in the league.
“I’d say we’re maybe three more wins away from securing staying in the league. Once we have reached that milestone - I’m going to personally make sure that I have a celebration - and then we’ll see where it takes us.
“But for now, the focus is getting to a stage where we’re safe and then we will see where it takes us. There’s no real pressure.
“It’s more enjoyment and excitement for the future rather than feeling the pressure of the present.”
But the team certainly seem to be on the up after tough early-season home defeats to Beckenham (5-0) and Three Bridges (4-0).
Nimani said: “I have invested quite a lot of patience into this team. I have endured some lows with this team.
“Earlier in the season, we had 5-0 and 4-0 defeats. But I stuck with the team and stuck with our beliefs because I knew the good times were ahead of us.
“I have got a lot of faith in these boys and we’re starting to reap the benefits of these beliefs.”
He has recruited a number of familiar faces at Sevenoaks, including striker Warren Mfula, winger Jefferson Aibangbee and keeper Jordan Perrin.
Ex-Whitstable performance analyst Ben Maci has also made the move over to west Kent.
“With the way we operate, it really suits our personalities,” said the boss. “We invest a lot of time to make sure we operate in the right ways. I would describe how we work as being the modern way.
“I feel we’re in a good place - but everything is temporary in non-league football.”
Indeed, 17-goal top scorer Aibangbee and Mfula have netted 32 goals between them already this season, with both coming up with the goods in the second half of Oaks’ 2-1 victory at Margate last weekend.
Nimani noted: “They’re two players that I know very well.
“They’re two players who I can get the best out of and two players who are flourishing in the platform we have created for them.”
