By GILBERT WANDERA
Sofapaka have confirmed David Ouma as head coach ahead of the new season, which kicks off on February 7.
According to club chairman, Elly Kalekwa, the coach has what it takes to guide them to their ambition of lifting the 2013 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title.
“We have decided to confirm Ouma in the position. This means we will no longer be looking for a foreign coach to take over the club as earlier planned,” said Kalekwa.
Ouma was elevated to the position of head coach on an acting capacity after Englishman Stewart Hall left the club towards the end of last season after barely two months at Sofapaka when he re-joined Azam of Tanzania.
The team resumed training on Monday at City Stadium and announced they had signed former defender Collins Kisuya who returned back home after a short and controversial stint in Belgium.
Kisuya left AFC Leopards in controversial circumstances mid last season for Belgian top side Germinal Beerschot but he failed to make an impact and had to be released.
The team has also signed former Karuturi Sports midfielder Ken Oduor, Salim Abdalla and Charles Ouma formerly at Ligi Ndogo. Ugandans Abdalla Nyanzi and Wiliam Sempembwa are the other new signings.
Muhoroni Youth coach Alfred Imonje has warned opponents to underrate them at their own peril this season even as the team welcomed back former striker Godfrey Simiyu.
Simiyu, the team’s top scorer in the first leg last season left for Sony Sugar but did not make an impact at the club.
“We are busy building a strong team and the season looks bright. Our target is at least the top eight because of the calibre of players we are talking to. It is great to have Simiyu back home because this is the club that brought him up,” said Imonje.
AFC Leopards chairman Alex Magelo said all is well at the club even as the team announced it has signed former under-20 midfielder Patila Omollo.
The former Kariobangi Sharks midfielder has already started training with Leopards, who are also in negotiation with former Tusker forward Obadiah Ndege.
Leopards will, however, be without Allan Wanga who will this week leave to join Al Nasr of Oman. In Oman, Wanga will join fellow Kenyan Jamal Mohammed.
Former Tusker midfielder Chrispine Olando is currently training with Gor Mahia for a possible move to the club.
Olando is among 13 players who were released by Tusker at the end of last season.
New KCB coach Abdalla Juma says he is looking to hire eight players ahead of the new season.
The club recently lost their top striker Paul Kiongera who was loaned out to Gor Mahia on a one year deal. They also lost another of their seasoned strikers Ezekiel Odera who moved to Thika United.
