Makwatta: Leave Ulinzi Stars for AFC Leopards? No way!

Makwatta: Leave Ulinzi Stars for AFC Leopards? No way!

Kenyan Premier League 2016 Golden Boot winner John Mark Makwatta declared he would never leave Ulinzi Stars FC for any other domestic club.

The Kenya Defence Forces team striker was speaking after being presented with his award for emerging the best marksman of the season where his 15 goals propelled Ulinzi to finish third.

“The competition was not hard. It’s only that we had a lot of games compared to other teams since we played in the East Africa Military Games, KPL Top 8 and GOtv Shield tournaments besides the KPL,” Makwatta, 21, who missed out the award last year said.

The 2015 second runners up in the same category behind Jesse Were and Michael Olunga who have since departed for Zambia and Sweden was content with his campaign despite Ulinzi missing out on a first title since 2010.

“If you compare Ulinzi to other teams, we had a more demanding season and having scored 24 goals in 37 games for my team this season, I know I can only get better,” the striker added.

Having fired Ulinzi to third in the KPL and the finals of the GOtv Shield domestic cup where his side lost to eventual league champions, Tusker, Makwatta has attracted interest from overseas clubs.

“Every players dream is to play abroad and it’s true that I have received a number of offers from teams outside the country. I’m taking my time to evaluate them before I make up my mind on where I will be playing next season,” he added.

KPL giants AFC Leopards who endured a nightmare season are reported to be one of the clubs interested in his services but when asked about it he responded.

“I have not heard any offers from Leopards and I don’t think I can sacrifice a big and stable club like Ulinzi for any local club, for now am happy at Ulinzi,” Makwatta who is now a trained soldier declared.

Makwatta was first recruited by a professional club while playing for JMJ Academy where he turned out as a midfielder in his formative days.

Former Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards coach, Dutchman Jan Koops employed him in the middle of the pack where he spent three seasons with the Nairobi-based outfit before he was snapped up by Ulinzi in October 2013 alongside current Gor Mahia first choice keeper, Boniface Onyango.

At Ulinzi, he was moved upfront when his knack for goals was discovered and Makwatta who took time off for military training in 2014 returning last year to fire in 14 goals to finish behind Were (21) and Olunga (19) in the race for the KPL Golden Boot.

This year, there was no denying him the honours after finishing ahead of Kepha Awani (Leopards) and Wycliffe Ochomo (Muhoroni Youth) who bagged 13 and 12 goals.

Tags:

Michael Olunga John Mark Makwatta Kenyan Premier League football Wycliffe Ochomo Golden boot Jesse Were Makwatta Kenya Defence Forces Kepha Aswani Ulinzi Stars FC

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