Eleven-time Kenyan Premier League champions Tusker have released 14 players as they look to revamp for the new season.
The off loaded players include captain James Situma, Cersidy Lumumba, Allan Wanga, Stephen Owusu, Humphrey Mieno, Anthony Ndolo, George Mandela and Moses Ndawula.
Others are Victor Ndinya, Luis Misiko, Danson Kago, Noah Wafula, Martin Kizza and Clifford Alwanga.
“We had individual discussions and negotiations with each of those players we’ve dropped. We had offered alternatives to them. We were willing to send some of them on loan but all of them opted to move on. Personally, I wish all of them the very best in their future endeavours. We have been together for quite some time and they have grown to become family. I wish them well,” said Tusker’s Chief Executive Officer Charles Obiny.
He added: “We were planning to conduct trials on December 20 to give upcoming players a chance to showcase their talent and perhaps join our club but we had to postpone that. We shall let people know when we shall be doing that and which players we have recruited once the New Year festivities are over.”
Obiny said that this was all part of a process to help the club restructure properly ahead of the new season. He said they had already identified several players they hope will join the Ruaraka-based side.
The brewers had a lukewarm 2017 season, starting the year as reigning GOtv Shield and SportPesa Premier League champions only to finish without a trophy.
This unsatisfactory performance, despite the fact that the club enjoyed significant support from the mother company East Africa Breweries Limited and possessed – on paper – perhaps the most talented side in the league, claimed the job of Ugandan coach George Nsimbe shortly before the season ended.
Nsimbe’s position was given to his assistant Francis Baraza who is spearheading the recruitment process.
Among the 14 players dropped, a number of them have already found the “good” in “goodbye”, including lanky midfielder Humphrey Mieno who has joined reigning league champions Gor Mahia on a two-year deal.
Former Tusker and Sofapaka captain Situma is reported to be heading to Nzoia United while Kago is exploring a return to his former club Sofapaka.
