The Kenyan mid-season transfer window will swing open in January. Clubs will be out to beef up their squad ahead of the second leg while players will also be keen on making moves either in search of playtime or better pay.
Opera News looks at players who need to move from their current clubs in order to continue with their career development. These are players whose careers have stagnated or are unlikely to get adequate playtime at their current teams.
Faraj Ominde (Tusker FC)
The attacking midfielder took the KPL U20 league by storm in 2016 while captaining Kakamega Homeboyz and was touted a bright career. He stood out as one of the best players in the competition attracting interest from several clubs including AFC Leopards, Ulinzi Stars, Gor Mahia, and Homeboyz senior team. He, however, opted to join Chemelil Sugar where he established himself as a key player for the Millers.
Two seasons later, he moved to Tusker. He managed to feature for the team for a couple of matches in his first season but has been on the periphery for the last two seasons. At 23, the youngest of the Okaka trio needs to make a move to January to revive his career. A move to Posta Rangers, Chemelil Sugar, Mathare United or even Sony Sugar will be beneficial for the stylish midfielder.
Robinson Kamura (AFC Leopards)
The Leopards captain has just returned from injury and is unlikely to win his place back in the team. He is behind Soter Kayumba, Clyde Senaji, Robert Ayala, Collins Shichenje and Christopher Oruchum in the pecking order.
Stand-in captain, Kayumba has formed a good partnership with Senaji at the back and the former Mathare United man, who was largely blamed for the team’s poor run in the league last season may just need to find a new club in January. A return to Mathare United or a move to Posta Rangers may be just what he needs once the mid-season window swings open.
Dennis Oalo (Gor Mahia)
Oalo joined Gor Mahia from Nairobi Stima in July after an exemplary season with the NSL where he scored 26 goals in all competitions for Kisumu AllStars and the Power-men whom he joined during the mid-season window from the Kisumu based side.
Four months down the line, he is yet to make an appearance for the Kenyan Premier League leaders. He is much down in the pecking order and unless there’s a very peculiar situation, he is unlikely to feature for the Kenyan champions this season.
The Kisumu Day alumnus will need to move in January, even if it’s on a loan deal in order to secure more playtime and reignite what’s now a stagnating career.
Moses Mudavadi (Bandari)
Eyebrows were raised when the youngster, then at St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale was called into Harambee Stars squad in 2017.
After sitting for his KCSE examination in 2018, he moved to Bandari. He got some playtime in his first season in Mombasa but the current campaign has proved difficult for the right-back who can also play in central defense, defensive midfield, and right-wing positions. If he is not guaranteed more playtime by coach Bernard Mwalala, the Kenya U23 player may just need to move away from the Dockers camp to continue with his development elsewhere.
Marsellus Ingotsi (Posta Rangers)
The Posta Rangers attacker is yet to cement his place in the Mail-men’s team two years down the line. On the rare occasions that he plays, he is largely deployed as a winger as opposed to the central striking position where he is best suited. He was a prolific goal-scorer during his time at St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale and Kitale Tranfoc FC but the goals-tap have since dried up.
The former AFC Leopards man may just need to find a new home where he will be the main striker and once again find his goal-scoring touch.
Sydney Lokale (Kariobangi Sharks)
The lanky forward has the potential to become a goal-scoring machine but his development has been hampered by the bit-part role he plays at Kariobangi Sharks.
He has proved that he can score goals but he needs to play week in, week out to realize his full potential. He had unsuccessful trials at Malmo in Sweden last year and it goes to show that he is a player who can develop to a top striker.
The former Nakuru Allstars man may just need to exit his Sharks comfort zone in January in search of regular playtime which will see him reestablish himself.
Lennox Ogutu (Mathare United)
Much was expected of the central defender but Mathare United man is still in the shadow years down the line. The January transfer window may just be ten right time for the lanky defender to move on and establish himself at another club.
Steven Onyango (KCB)
The attacker joined KCB from Fortune Sacco at the start of the season after scoring over 20 league goals in the second tier for the then. league debutants.
Nine matches into the new season, he’s yet to feature for Zedekiah Otieno’s side. Reagan Otieno, Steven Waruru, Ezekiel Odera, Enock Agwanda, Ian Motanda, Kennedy Owino are all ahead of him in the pecking order and the former Kenyan Police FC man may need to move away from the Bank in January.
The diminutive forward needs to play more and a move to another side, even an NSL team albeit temporarily may be beneficial to his career.
Moses Mburu (AFC Leopards)
After an injury-plagued year, the left-back needs a new lease of life into his career. He has recovered well and needs to re-establish himself. The former Mathare United man has the potential to become a top defender but injuries have always derailed him.
At Leopards, he faces a huge task of displacing Isaac Kipyegon and Washington Munene from the fullback position. A move away in January may be just what he needs to kick start his career.
Fredrick Odhiambo (Gor Mahia)
The Gor Mahia custodian has found himself down the pecking order following the arrival of David Mapigano from Singida United in July.
Odhiambo, who was viewed as Boniface Oluoch’s ultimate successor has found himself further down the pecking order and barely features in matchday squads.
There were calls that he be called to the national team early this year and a January move is just what he needs to get playtime.