Sony Sugar player Francis Ouma. [Photo:Stafford Ondego/Standard]

By Gilbert Wandera

Kenya: Sony Sugar has laid off eight players due to alleged non-performance.

The move comes less than one month to the opening of the new transfer window and could be a strategy for the struggling side to create room for new players.

The biggest casualty in the purge is former Kenyan Premier League (KPL) player of the year Francis Ouma who joined Sony at the beginning of this season from Mathare United.

Another big name affected is former Oserian forward John Keo, who, together with Ouma, are accused of deserting Sony Sugar.

Sony chairman, Christopher Odero, said Ouma and Keo have not been seen in Sony for two weeks and the club does not know their whereabouts.

“They have deserted the club and, as a result, are no longer part of us. We do not need even to give them notice,” he said in an interview.

Standard contract

The KPL players standard contract requires a club to give their employees a two month notice before terminating their contracts for whatever reason.

Odero said the rest of the sacked players have failed to prove themselves and, as a result, have nothing to offer the team which has been thrown into a battle to avoid relegation.

“Some of the players have not played since the season began and we cannot continue to keep them here. They have had enough time to prove themselves but have failed to do it. We have no choice but to let them go,” he said.

Wide berth

Those sacked for non-performance are Amon Muchiri, James Orundu, Shaban Nonda, Musa Mohammed, Tony Ssentogo and Michael Izungu. The decision comes just two days after Sony lost 1-0 to Ulinzi Stars on Saturday at Afraha Stadium.

Sony are currently at the bottom of the KPL standings with eight points from 11 matches.

Orundu has reportedly been on medication, having landed at the Awendo-based club with a serious bout of pneumonia.

Fans appealed to the club management to give the players a chance to prove themselves.

“It’s unfair to keep players for a year without being given a chance to prove themselves,” said one of the fans.

But they comceded that Ouma has been a disappointment, having decided to give club training a wide berth.