Okwemba, Juma face sack unless they join Rangers

By FEVERPITCH TEAM

Despite signing an enhanced two-year deal with AFC Leopards, midfielder Charles Okwemba may be forced to abandon the club following an ultimatum by his employers Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) to join Division One side Rangers.

Also facing the same fate is Sofapaka  defender Abdalla Juma. The two players have until end of day today to resign from their Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs or risk losing employment with their company.

As employees of PCK the two players are required to turn out for the Division One club.

KCB midfielder Edwin Mwaura, who is also an employee of PCK, has already quit the bankers to join Rangers.

Ranger’s team manager John Terry said it was a directive from PCK that they should either join their employer’s funded team or tender their resignation.

“The players signed an agreement that directed that they should join Rangers for the second leg of the league or risk losing their employment with the corporation.

“It is very clear and it’s up to them to decide. They are our employees and should not serve any other party,” said the official.

Terry at the same time  said he was delighted with the team’s progress in the lower league and expressed  confidence they will make a come-back to the KPL next year.

The team is also eying a host of experienced players to make their ambition a reality and have invited several players for trials.

Among those being eyed by Rangers are former AFC Leopards striker Victor Ochieng’, former Nairobi City Stars midfielder Ibrahim Kitawi and Simon Mburu from Sofapaka.

Former Tusker midfielder Maurice Odipo could also join the lower league side.

Rangers remain unbeaten in nine matches and have so far collected 23 points from their fixtures.

Elsewhere, Tanzania will not send any team to participate in the Kagame Cup later this month in the Darfur province of Sudan, due to security concerns.

Goal.com yesterday quoted Tanzania Deputy Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Amos Makala as telling the country’s National Assembly that the government had reliable information that there were serious security concerns in Darfur.

“The government position is clear, we cannot send our teams where there is no security,” the Deputy Minister said in his reply to a supplementary question from Richard Ndassa.

Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba SC were to represent Tanzania Mainland in the tournament. Kenya champions Tusker have also withdrawn from the tournament.