Top Leopards striker Aswani retails his services to Nakumatt

Nakumatt FC have completed signing of AFC Leopards top striker Kepha Aswani on a one-year contract as the side waits to see whether it will take its place in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) this season.

The Retailers who finished fourth in the 2016 National Super League (NSL) were promoted to the KPL by Football Kenya Federation when it relegated Muhoroni Youth, Thika United and Sofapaka FC when they failed to meet licensing requirements in conformity with CAF and FIFA regulations.

However, their participation in the top flight is subject to the resolution of the impasse between FKF and KPL Limited but the team has wasted no time in bolstering their squad.

Nakumatt FC Secretary General Albert Wesonga told Citizen Digital on Wednesday that Aswani was  signed a day earlier after leading the scoring charts at Leopards with 11 goals that saw him finish third in the race for the 2016 Golden Boot.

Aswani, who has been a free agent for barely a week after parting ways with Ingwe by mutual consent, enjoyed a fine run in front of goal until allegations of indiscipline rocked his relationship with Leopards that saw the club suspend him for 14 days towards the end of the season.

Despite being on Leopard’s naughty step, the former Kenyan international was not among the players culled by Ingwe English coach Stewart Hall before he opted to move on.

On his colourful life off the pitch, Wesonga defended the player saying his private life should not be used to judge his ability to perform.

“When we see him, we see goals and that’s the most important thing for us. He’s proven his worth on the big stage so we went for him. We heard what happened last season but everyone makes mistakes.

“We’ve had a chat with him and we feel he’s a different person from the one that made the wrong headlines,” Wesonga said.

He added the team has been on the lookout for a central striker to fill the void left by Ismail Dunga who left the club in early September to join Greek second-tier side Acharnaikos FC.

“We have Joshua Oyoo and Timonah Wanyonyi who both played up front but they’re not natural center forwards so with Aswani coming in it gives us more choices.”

The pairing between Wanyonyi and Oyoo returned 12 league goals shared equally between them and Wesonga hopes Aswani’s addition will help boost their firepower.

Leopards slumped to 13th in the KPL standings despite Aswani’s firepower as they registered their lowest finish since the top flight was re-branded in 2007.