Kenyan Premier League club, Bandari, have sent 11 players packing after terminating their contracts on Monday.
Chris Ochieng, Douglas Mokaya, Felix Ochieng, Keegan Ndemi, Ronny Otieno, Rodgers Aloro, Johanna Mwita and Hamid Mohamed are some of the players who have been axed. Others are Faraj Ominde, George Osam, and Darius Msagha.
The dockers are on a major reconstruction mission that has swept across the technical bench and the playing unit.
The development came to light even as head coach Twahir Muhiddin reiterated his desire to transform the Dockers into a winning outfit ahead of next season.
Muhiddin confirmed that they have begun the hunt for a razor-sharp striker with their focus on the current National Super League top scorer Nyamawi Beja from SS Assad.
“We need to sign a good striker and a creative midfielder to boost our chances at the title next season,” Muhiddin said.
The mass player exodus occurred moments after the coastal side unveiled ex-Kenyan international Douglas Mutua as the new team manager.
Mutua said he is excited to have landed the role. He comprises the new-look technical bench including head coach Twahir Muhiddin, assistant coach John Baraza and goalkeepers’ coach Jerim Onyango.
“I’m happy to be part of the new team, a new beginning. We are ready to push the team to unprecedented heights next season,” Mutua said in an exclusive interview on Sunday.
“At the moment, the focus is on beefing up the squad. We have embarked on a vigorous recruitment process in search of quality players who can steer towards our title ambitions,” Mutua added.
“A lot of activities will be witnessed at the club in the coming days because we are keen on making a raft of effective changes.”
Mutua’s appointment comes days after the Dockers confirmed Twahir Muhiddin as their new head coach. The 2019 FKF Cup champions had short-listed four top local and two foreign tacticians to fill the vacant coaching position at the club.
Muhiddin’s appointment was approved at a board of management meeting convened on Saturday.
Twahir has been serving in an acting capacity since May when he took over from Anthony Kimani and he has been instrumental in turning around the club’s fortunes in the final phases of the season.
The former Harambee Stars gaffer agreed to take up the position after the board engaged him on numerous occasions and urged him to accept a permanent job.
Muhiddin was said to be at a crossroads, unsure whether to take up the role or continue serving as a coaching instructor with the Football Kenya Federation. Former Harambee Stars forward John Baraza was roped in as Muhiddin’s assistant after the club failed to secure the signature of Nzoia Sugar tactician Salim Babu who is said to be headed to Police.
“Since Salim Babu opted for Police, the team Bandari embarked on a fresh process to recruit another coach who will deputize Muhiddin in the new technical bench,” said a top official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Also joining the bench is Harambee Stars goalkeeper trainer Jerim Onyango who played the role at Kariobangi Sharks in the preceding season.