TUK miss top man as Super 8 League starts

Jeconiah Uyoga in past SPS8 League action with TUK FC but has since left the team leaving a void in the team's attacking force.A

The 2017 Sportpesa Super 8 Premier League will kick off on Saturday at various grounds in Nairobi.

Reigning champions Kayole Asubuhi are confident they will successfully defend the league, now in its second edition.

Jericho All Stars, who were second, and Technical University of Kenya (TUK), who finished third, are praying for luck this time round.

The inaugural edition last year went to the wire with TUK settling for bronze with 60 points, one point behind runner-up Jericho All Stars and four behind winners, Kayole Asubuhi.

Even though TUK are prepared and ready for the new season, it is evident they will miss their marksman Jeconiah Uyoga.

Uyoga, who was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP), has since linked up with Kenya Premier League side Gor Mahia.

"It will not be easy for us without Uyoga, who scored at will, but I am training my charges to adapt to live without him. Currently, we are training very hard," TUK head coach Lukas Aluoch said.

Uyoga, who has penned a three-year contract with the Green Army, has literally left a huge hole for Aluoch to fill. The striker scored 26 goals of 71 notched by TUK last season.

He was also in contention for the golden boot award, which he narrowly surrendered to Francis Thairu of Kawangware United.

Aluoch concedes that it is a major blow for the team to lose a player of Uyoga's pedigree, but remained adamant that the current squad has a chance to post even better performances this season.