Thika United resort to experience

By JAMES WAINDI

Referred to as the Kenyan Premier League's Arsenal FC for their style of moulding youngsters hoping they would win titles for them in vain, Thika United coach Abdallah Juma has now vowed to change tact this season.

The Brookside Dairy-sponsored team which finished third in the 2008/2009 season, survived a scare last season as they only managed to leap from bottom of the table mid-season to finish tenth and Juma believes he has learnt from his mistakes.

"In such a competitive league you can no longer rely on youngsters to bring you trophies. We have had relatively the youngest squad in the league for the last three to four seasons, but with the level of competition at the moment, I think we need to re-strategise," said Juma.

Thika have landed the signatures of four Ugandan youngsters, a Tanzanian, a Rwandese and a Kenyan student for the next season, but Juma has vowed to spice up his squad with some experienced players before the transfer window elapses on January 31.

The Ugandans who were students of the famous St Mary’s Kitende are Juma Balinya, David Bogere, Anthony Kizito and Dan Bitikwelira, while the Tanzanian is Shaban Mocka from Lord Baden Powel Memorial School and Kenya’s Wycliffe Nyangechi from St Marks Mukoroingwa.

They were all identified during the Brookside-sponsored East Africa Secondary Schools Ball Games held in Nakuru last August.

"Youngsters are vital in any team, but I have resorted to blend youth and experience this time round to enable the team get results. We have moulded a number of players who have now come of age and would be very vital in our title campaign and I think two or three more signings of experienced players would see us in the right direction," said Juma.

He added: "Francis Kahata is now back with us fully after he missed most of last season on trials at Pretoria University in South Africa, Michael Bodo has also come of age and will be very vital in our campaign. International Peter Opiyo is also with us but he is expected to go for trials in Israel but if it doesn’t work out he will be instrumental for us," he said.

"I am also eyeing two experienced players from KRA and Posta Rangers to fill the gap left by some of the departed players," he added.

The club’s vice chairman Gerald Chege confirmed dropping five players, but said they had retained most of their key players.