Kenya/Liberia: Congo Shop in Nigeria, Liberia

Abdulrahman Sheriff

8 June 2011

Nairobi — In a desperate bid to salvage their sinking ship, Congo United have stretched their scouting muscle to as far away as West Africa.

The Kenyan Premier League debutants have snapped up players from Nigeria and Liberia, the pair being among six players the club is bringing to Mombasa in the June transfer window.

And across the street at Kenya Ports Authority, Congo’s coastal city rivals Bandari FC have remained tight-lipped over their signings although former Tanzania goalkeeper Ivo Mapunda might not be joining the portsmen, after all.

Mapunda has not been training with the other players at their Mombasa Polytechnic base, his absence fuelling speculation that his intended move has fallen through.

Lenox Safari, a sports officer at KPA, who own Kenyan Premier League returnees Bandari, would not be drawn into the Mapunda debate.

Last word on signings

Even Bandari goalkeepers’ coach Razak Siwa, who has been monitoring the player’s performance, was reluctant to say if they would sign up the Tanzanian or not.

“We’ll let you know all the players we are to sign immediately after finalising the transfer process,” said Safari, who added that the team’s coach, Rishadi Shedu, has the last word on signings.

Liberian winger Morris Ndukeli and Nigerian midfielder Frank Imo Nwojo have already started training with Congo. They are among six signings targeted by United in the month-long transfer season.

Although Congo’s technical director, Aref Baghazally, refused to talk about who they have signed, the Daily Nation team, which visited at the team’s Ziwani training ground on Wednesday, found the West African duo at training.

Other new faces at Wednesday’s training were Farid Mohammed and Mohammed Bazenga, both strikers from a Nationwide Division One League club Admiral, as well as Mike Baraza, a midfielder from Kakamega’s Home Boys, and goalkeeper Paul Ochieng (Sony Sugar).

Both Coastal teams meet tough opponents in home KPL matches at Mbaraki Sports Club this weekend.

On Saturday, Bandari entertain league leaders Rangers FC with Congo taking on Thika United, one of the top teams in the league.

AllAfrica – All the Time