Muguna: I have to work hard for a new chapter at Gor

The 2016 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Most Valuable Player Kenneth Muguna is calm ahead of his looming return to champions Gor Mahia, after uninspiring Albania sojourn where he featured for FK Tirana.

Muguna, who was signed to the Eastern Europe club by former Gor coach Jose Marcelo ‘Ze Maria’ Ferreira soon after the Brazilian had parted ways with K’Ogalo midway 2017, has agreed in principle to rejoin  his former club after his services with the 2018-2019 season just two months away.

Although he has not penned down the contract officially after agreeing the terms last week, Muguna, who made his name at the National Super League (NSL) side Western Stima)  and is calmly looking forward to a new venture at Gor.

“The Gor officials had a very busy week ahead of Sunday’s coronation in Kisumu, that’s why I delayed in signing. It will be a fresh start, a fresh challenge and experience.

“What I gave before I left for Tirana is a past tense, I have to work hard and write a new story at the club,” Muguna told Citizen Digital.

The talented tall, slender midfield sensation will be joining a formidable Gor mid unit that has a super-creative Francis Kahata, evergreen Humphrey Mieno, ambitious Samuel Onyango and hard fighting Boniface Omondi among others, says he is ready for the first team challenge.

“I cannot focus on competition now, what I simply know I’m signing to play. It is healthy for a club to have a variety, to allow the coaches to choose the best as showcased in training,” offered the soft spoken Muguna.

Having been in the cold for close to three months since leaving Tirana, Muguna concedes he has a demanding task to regain his sharpness.

“I have been training at Buruburu and maintained athlete discipline but being out of competitive football for over a month means I have to work hard to be in top form again.

“By the time the new season kicks-off I should be in my real self,” he added.

Though he didn’t sparkle at Tirana forcing him to terminate his contract prematurely, Muguna says the experience in the Albania top league side is invaluable.

“I learnt a lot, the lessons go beyond my football life. That is a different set up by all standards, including culture and style of playing. Being away from home teaches you lessons that you cannot get locally with all due respect to local clubs.

“I hope the experiences make me a better person and player as I return home,” he noted.

Congratulating Gor for the 2018 KPL title, Muguna observed their competitors in the league aught to up their game to make the league more exciting.

“It is the problem of other clubs if one team wins the league with several matches in hand despite a very busy season in other competitions. It can be more exciting if the title chase goes down to the wire, but that calls for all clubs to bridge the gap that exists in terns of standards.”

Muguna hopes to shine in the continental stage, agreeing dominating the local stage needs more icing with glory beyond the Kenyan boarders.

“Gor performed well in the CAF Confederation Cup this season, but the group stage performance can be bettered. I can’t wait to contribute to a better record next season,” he offered, with the CAF Champions League being the club’s biggest agenda in 2019.

He will however certainly miss the structures clubs in Albania have laid down, noting more investment needs to  made by African clubs to take football to the next level.

“It is not the players who are very different from ours here in Africa, it is the investment for the sport all round. For example, most clubs there have their own stadia and training grounds. They have hotels for their teams and proper kitting, some of the things that ease the aspect of playing and training,” he compared.

Muguna is just one of the at least three players Gor is set to sign ahead of the new season, with Ugandan left-back ace Shafiq Batambuze reported to have been roped in already.