NSL teams begin to beef-up for second leg of season after window opens
City Stars coach Sanjic Alajic (right) give instructions to Oliver Maloba in a past National Super League match at Camp Toyoyo. PD/DAVID NDOLO
As the second leg of the 2019/20 Betika Super League campaign approaches, most teams are eager to make amends and improve on their stead.
League contenders are already up and running, sprucing up for a final push. Indications are high that movements will be witnessed in the playing department of some of the title pushers after the transfer window officially opened yesterday as they seek to consolidate their good runs.
With the mid-season transfer window running for the next 30 days, pundits are expecting interesting names to be on the move.
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All eyes will be on runaway leaders Nairobi City Stars together with Bidco United, Vihiga United and Nairobi Stima who form the top log standings. The former premiership giants under the tutorship of Bosnian tactician Sanjin Alagic are enjoying a successful season so far after amassing 43 points out of a possible 54 in the first leg, losing just a single match out of 18. Indeed, apart from the Kawangware-based City Stars who have a six point safety cushion at the top, the chase for the other automatic promotion slot is up for grabs with three teams in the mix separated by only a solitary point.
CEO of City Stars Patrick Korir told People Sport that the team will be looking at sprucing up their weak points, but insisted that the core of the team will remain intact.
“Maybe about four or five new players might be coming in but that will be left to the coach to decide. Obviously some names might get dropped to create space. Our aim is to finish strong and this will only be achieved if we have a compact squad,” he said.
Former premiership side Ushuru is said to be considering a massive transfer with coach James Omondi not satisfied with the first leg exploits where his team finished sixth on the log. Already winger Calvin Wekesa formerly of Kisumu Allstars has already signed for the taxmen.
Fourth-placed Nairobi Stima has completed the move of Patrick Mogeni on loan from Bandari and they are still out to sign four more players to help launch a proper push.
Coast Stima who are placed seventh have had an impressive run inside the first leg picking 29 points. Yesterday they completed the signing of goalkeeper Brandon Obiero from relegated Sony Sugar FC.
The survival of teams who have struggled financially will be keenly looked at. The Betika deal signed in May was to see clubs get Sh750,000 annually but in installments. Some clubs have already dished out walkovers citing financial difficulties.
