Eldoret Youth has started regrouping ahead of their opening match against Shabana on Sunday National Super League (NSL) afternoon in the following the disbandment of Northern Wanderers.
Wanderers were disbanded following their poor performance at the NSL after taking over from Eldoret Youth from the start of this season.
CEO of Wanderers Dr Abdinasir wrote to Football Kenya Federation, requesting for the disbandment of the team. It read in part “We kindly request the federation to accept our decision to dissolve Northern Wanderers football club since the financial situation of the club does not warrant it to compete.”
“In good faith, we would like Eldoret Youth to take up their position with immediate effect and accorded all necessary support to compete and retain the club in the league. We apologize ant incontinences we caused everyone involved as we would have preferred to be different today.”
According to Eldoret Youth team manager Anderson Sango, they started training last week after receiving news that Wanderers has been disbanded hence they have to take over the league, which they have a big debt and work.
Sango explained that they had an agreement with Wanderers directors that we give out the slot with final pay-out set for November but following poor performance, they had to return the slot back to us.
“Running a team is not easy. They said they had their own players from Al Ahly from Kajiado who were national finalists at the Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom. We wanted to give them our players but they rejected the offer, but as they say, things on the ground are different and it was evident when the conceded 8-0 in the opening match against Nairobi Stima,” explained Sango.
Wanderers failed to win any match in ten matches played, conceded 35 goals, scored 8 goals and will begin from -27 goals on Sunday.
“We are hoping to get good results from Sunday and in the nine matches left in the first round, we want to get out of relegation zone. Come second round, we will sign new players to boost the team because our target was and has always been to play at Kenya Premier League,” said Sango.
He said that the number of players turning up for training has been increasing day by day hoping to get better results.
“Our players have experience in the NSL after they played last season and had good results,” he said.
Head coach Peter Kihamba was optimistic the team will perform well.
“We are expecting to play a good match on Sunday and gain all points. It will not be easy. As Eldoret family, we really needed this team to propel the region in football,” said Kihamba, the former soccer star.
In the opening match, Wanderers conceded 8-0 against Nairobi Stima, lost 2-1 to Fortune Sacco, lost similar score to Mout Kenya United, 3-4 to Migori Youth, 1-3 to Talanta, 0-6 to Nairobi City Stars, 3-0 to newcomers Murang’a Seal, 2-0 to Modern Coast Rangers, 2-3 to St. Joseph’s Youth and 2-0 to Administration Police.
Additional information The Star Newspaper