Teams face challenges in preparation for league

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League 2022-2023 season is scheduled to kick-off on August 27 but whether clubs are ready in terms of preparations is another question all together.

While clubs like the defending champions Tusker, KCB and Bandari look less concerned regarding their financial muscles, Nzoia Sugar FC and City Stars are a few examples of clubs struggling to strengthen before the first whistle.

Nzoia head coach Salim Babu is aware of these challenges and acknowledges that as long there is no money to sign players then he has no option but to work with what he has.

“What we are trying to do for now is to work with those players we have because you understand very well the problems that are facing Kenyan football which is sponsorship instability.

Therefore, we have to plan according to what you have unless you get some money to bolster your squad,” said Babu.

Nzoia is just among those clubs that have no clear list of players that will be part of their first team squad for the new season.

But for coach Babu, the club’s philosophy has for long been to tap talents from students who have finished form four and players from the lower tier clubs and he is keen to trigger that method.

“The financial problems will not be something new to us and as we speak there are those players who have lineup to leave and join rivals while we are planning to fill the gaps by giving the opportunity to students who have completed their O level studies.

Almost every team is struggling financially and so for us we stay calm and happy to tap talents from grassroots,” Babu added.

His counterpart from City Stars Nicholas Muyoti has also voiced his concern that he is yet to sign a player because so far he has not been facilitated with the finances from his bosses.

But he remains optimistic that they will call him soon for him to act fast according to the transfer signings to fill the vacuum left by Yves Yidah and Timothy Noor who have joined South African and Swedish clubs.

The Kawangware based club has 10 players who have their contracts expired and should be renewed immediately but still no white smoke.

“I would like to renew some of the players that their contracts have expired.

“I can say that more than 10 players have their contracts expired and we have lost two players Yves Yidah and Timothy Noor who have joined South African and Swedish clubs for greener pastures.

“I am waiting for their (Club Bosses) call so that we may sit down and solve this as fast as possible so as to know the way forward,” said Muyoti.

On the other hand, Bandari are not stopping anytime soon on signings despite having roped in six players to help aim for the league title.

Heywood Steven is the media officer for the team and he says the team is going for the title.

“Because of the target for the title that is why the club has decided to sign six players and even more are on their way and will be announced immediately we are through with paperwork.

All these efforts tells you that the team is aiming for nothing short of the title," Steven said.