City Stars to axe seven, hire an equal number ahead of KPL campaign

Nairobi City Stars are aiming to sign seven new players to strengthen after gaining promotion to the Kenyan Premier League.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) cancelled all the leagues on April 30 thereby promoting City Stars, to the top division.

They had topped the National Super League throughout the campaign accumulating 43 points from 18 matches, by the time the league was halted.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, the club’s Chief Executive Officer Patrick Korir said they are planning to add seven new players as a way of bolstering the squad.

“We are planning to add seven new players including one centre back, a left back, three wingers, a midfielder and a striker.

Currently we are having 25 players and out of the number, only 17 will remain meaning we are releasing seven. We are now on the scouting process and I believe by the end of next week we shall have the names,” Korir explained.

“Some of the players will have their contacts ending and the head coach’s advise was that if we get promoted then we will have to rely on experienced players who will take us through the KPL.”

Some of the experienced players in the team are former Sofapaka man Anthony ‘Muki’ Kimani, former Nzoia, Chemelil and Tusker defender Noah Abich, ex- Bandari and Tusker midfielder David Gateri, Oliver Maloba, Philip Opiyo, Erick Ochieng, former AFC Leopards duo  Aziz Okaka and Ezekiel Odera as well as Ibrahim Sane and Ugandan Jimmy Bageya.

Korir also urged the players to continue with their personal training program, shared by the head coach to keep fit.

City Stars were relegated from the top-tier in 2016 after managing just 19 points from the 30 games finishing at the bottom of the table.

They have since been fighting to get back to top-flight football without success, until this season when they managed to put up a consistent battle in home and away matches.