Bandari Football Club has added 12 new players to their squad for the second leg of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) premier league.
The coastal city-based club promoted five of their youth players from the Bandari youth.
The players are David Wanyama, Willy Gitama, Izzadin Ramadhan, Renson Wakalo and Hamisi Nyale who was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Chapa Dimba coastal region tournament.
Derrick Nsibambi, a Ugandan international striker who has five goals for Bandari this season, had his contract was extended. The striker joined Bandari on a six-month contract that expired in January, but after an impressive performance, the board extended his contract.
Brian Omondi, the Harambee Stars’ goalkeeper, joined Bandari on a two-year contract after leaving Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). Dockers have signed Francis Kahito from KCB, Muhammad Barisa from Nzoia Sugar, Abdulrahman Mwinyi from Mombasa Elite, David Sakwa from Kiminini Combine, and Hamisi Mwaphalu, the MVP of the Rashid Abdallah Super Cup.
Twaha Mbarak, the club’s vice chairman, stated that they plan to sign more players with two weeks remaining until the transfer market closes. The primary goal of signing new players is to enhance our squad and find a replacement for injured players.
We are also in talks with some players to mutually terminate their contracts because they are no longer needed by the club and for them to find another club to continue their careers,” Mbarak said.
While announcing the new players, Bandari also announced that Francis Baraza has been officially appointed as the club’s new tactician, with a two-year deal. Jerim Onyango was appointed his assistant and will double up as the team’s goalkeeper trainer.
“I am delighted to be the new coach of this team. It is an opportunity for the new players to showcase their talent and help Bandari reach its season goal of winning the league. We have been training with them for three days, and our confidence is great. We expect to win our game against Kariobangi Shark on Saturday,” said Baraza.
Baraza is also certain that Bandari will win the MozzartBet Cup, they will play against Bungoma Stars in the round of 32. According to Mbarak, Mbaraki Sports Club is due for renovations and the site has been handed to the constructors.
The renovation will take six months and cost the club more than 300 million.
Mbarak believes that contractors will do an excellent job so that when the stadium is completed, they will have one of the best facilities in Kenya.
Currently, negotiations were ongoing so as to create more time so that we can continue the season, while looking for another stadium to host our games. We would ask FKF to consider our proposal to hold our games at Mombasa Sports Club, while our stadium gets renovated.
By Abdulrahman Allui
