Bunyore Starlets sign 12 ahead of KWPL new season, 6 released

The club’s chairman Moses Mabwa says the sextet will pave the way for 12 new players as they seek to balance books at the Vihiga County based side.

Braxides Itambo and Becky Misango crossed to Bungoma Queens after the duo secured a scholarship opportunity at Sang’alo Technical Training Institute.

Tacy Olembo, Agnes Olesi, Eve Chemutai and Cynthia Okwado —all have joined National Women Super League side Bandari Queens after they were released by Bunyore Starlets.

“I could not hold the two players who got scholarships. But the quartet that has left for Bandari Queens has been released from the club as they were part of the squad we are building for next season,” said Mabwa.

“I want to sign young players ready to grow and be nurtured by the team. We had indiscipline issues with some players and embracing young talent will help us overcome this coming season.”

Mabwa also rubbished reports that the club was experiencing mass exodus of players and technical bench due to his alleged opaque leadership style and high-handedness.

“I owe no one anything. I have paid all allowances to players including those who left. We agreed that we would pay a Ksh 2000 allowance for a win, Ksh 1000 for a draw and nothing when we lose, which I paid,” he said.

Despite denying that players were not opting for other clubs because of mismanagement at the club, Mabwa claimed he was aware that there were fans who were inciting players to leave Bunyore Starlets.

“Our last season's budget was Ksh 17M. We squeezed the budget to KSH 6.5M when the County government of Vihiga gave us a total of KSH 0.8M. Hence it is impractical to yield to the demands of some players to have the club pay them KSH 20000 per month,” he stated.

Starlets, who finished eighth on 17 points last season, will unveil the new players and a new technical bench soon after their former tactician Timothy Ondeko left for a county job in the department of sports.

Technical director Dan Arunga, who is one of the club founders also exited to concentrate on his teaching job while goalkeeper trainer Brian Ogonda joined Hoha FC in the same capacity.

Their departure saw players begin to leave the Mumboha based club raising eyebrows on what could be ailing the team but Mabwa maintains that Bunyore Starlets will be the team to beat next season.