FKF Premier League newbies Mara Sugar have retained most of the players who helped the club qualify for the top-tier league.
Mara Sugar team manager, Gilbert Ledama, said they retained 20 players out of the 26 who were part of the team that helped the Cane Millers lift the second-tier National Super League.
“It is our policy to maintain the team since Division One. We have never overhauled the team and that was not going to change because we qualified for the FKF Premier League,” said Ledama.
Ledama said despite signing nine players in the summer transfer window, most players who were with them in the NSL will feature for them in the KPL.
“In our opening game against Homeboyz, we only had one new signing Meshack Makokha,” said Ledama, who took over from the late Tom Mboya.
Ledama confirmed the departure of Ernest Oyugi, who joined the Michael Olunga Foundation and Eliud Emase, who signed for Nzoia Sugar. James Olweny, Mohammed Barasa, Derrick Cheche and Patrick Otieno were released.
The new signings include forward Batts Awita from Murang’a Seal, right-back James Sati (Leopards), goalkeeper Ezekiel Owade (Shabana0, forward Noah Ng’endo (Kisumu All Stars) and Meshack Makokha (Bungoma Stars).
Other new signings are Samuel Oluoch (Green Commandos) Lankas Lenana (Westlife United), Kevin Samunyak (Tatu City FC) and youthful Felix Opiyo aka Casilas, a student at Koderobara High School.
He said Lenana and Samunyak are players from the locality, where the team is based. “We have a squad of 30 players who include four goalkeepers and 26 outfield players. We have depth in the squad in case of injuries,” noted the TM.
Further, he said they have bolstered their technical bench by bringing on board first assistant coach Benjamin Amukaba popularly known as Ben Bella. He will deputise former striker George Midenyo.
He said the club’s former head coach Benedict Wanjala is currently undertaking a Caf course in Kisumu while former assistant coach George Naibei who has a CAF license takes over as a fitness trainer.
“We were forced to make changes in the technical bench because of the requirements of the football governing body. We have sponsored Wanjala to undertake a Caf B course and he is still part of us,” noted Ledama.
He said their main target this season is to maintain their top-tier league position and finish in a top 10 finish.
“This season, we want to familiarise ourselves with the league and finish in a respectable position. From next season, we shall fight to lift the KPL,” he added.
He said they will go for maximum points when they face Bandari in Mombasa on Sunday. “It will not be an easy game but we are going to Mombasa for maximum points,” he concluded.
