KPL transfer season to open on Wednesday

The Kenyan Premier League transfer window officially swings open Wednesday midnight for post season sales.

This is the longer of the two transfer periods set aside by Football Kenya Federation to allow for player movement across clubs, and it will run all the way to January 31, 2017.

This period is set to be of special importance to reigning league champions Tusker and GOtv Shield runner’s up Ulinzi Stars who are set to represent Kenya in the two CAF competitions next year.

The soldiers are yet to make any comment concerning player recruitment, but Tusker coach Paul Nkata has already identified the midfield and strikers’ positions as the main areas that require strengthening in his team.

However, neither of the two clubs are known to engage in exorbitant spending during this period, so any major buys by the two clubs will more likely be replacements for those who depart from their fold.

In their quest to reclaim the league title they lost to Tusker this season, Gor Mahia are expected to engage in big business, and coach Marcelo Ferreira has already indicated that he intends to sign six new players during this period.

Of great concern for the club however is that five key players: Karim Nizigiyimana, Abouba Sibomana, Enock Agwanda, Boniface Oluoch and Eric Ouma will all be out of contracts by the end of this year, and Ferreira has said that he has notified the club management.

“I have talked with the management and made them aware that there are some first team members whose contracts need to be renewed. We have a good squad so far, but we need to strengthen the midfield and central defence positions to support the good players we already have.

“I plan to play an active role in the recruitment process as well as the pre-season training so that I can be in a better opposition to make decisions concerning players, something I wasn’t able to do last year,” Ferreira, who is currently in Italy for holiday, said.

It remains to be seen whether the 15-time champions will finally succeed in acquiring midfielder Humphrey Mieno from Tusker after their failed bid in June.

K’Ogalo had planned to sign the Tusker vice-captain during the midseason transfer window, but were unable to tie him down due to contractual issues.

Dan Sserunkuma, 2012 Golden Boot winner now at Bandari, is said to have made contact with his former club Gor Mahia asking for a second return.

At Muhoroni Youth, a crisis is brewing as ten players including veteran Francis Ochola, striker Wycliffe Ochomo and first choice goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo have all asked to be released from the club.

Ushuru coach Ken Kenyatta, who recently slammed his players for failing to save the club from relegation, has given his players the freeway to leave the club should they feel any need to.