B. OdhiamboMathare skipper welcomes addition of experienced players in team
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 19.09.23. | 21:49
The Slum Boys began their season with a barren draw against Migori Youth
New Mathare United captain Godfrey Rabar says the quality of players the technical bench managed to assemble in the transfer window is good enough to see the club secure a ticket back to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League.
Mathare were relegated last season alongside the Vihiga Bullets after finishing second from bottom, ending their 25-year stay in the top flight.
Their relegation triggered a mass player exodus, but a few, including Rabar, opted to remain behind and start life in the National Super League with the club.
His allegiance was rewarded with the captain's armband, succeeding Khalid Jumaan, who ditched the club for the 2009 league winners, Sofapaka.
Mathare coach Leonard Odipo and his backroom staff managed to sign some high-profile players, including Elly Asieche, Cliff Kasuti, Pascal Ogweno, and Stephen Njung'e, who all have top-flight experience.
Emmanuel Khwasira, who joined the club in the window, will have the privilege of playing with his elder brother Mark at the club.
The former Real Madrid player insists that the playing unit is laced with quality that will get them over the line at the end of the season and return to the table of men.
"The goal is to get promoted at the end of the season. Some of us had the option to leave but decided to stay and see the team get back to where it belongs. We have quality in abundance in the team," said the central defender.
The Slum Boys began their season with a barren draw against Migori Youth last weekend at the Migori grounds in a game in which Rabar got the nod to be on the first team.
The former Eastleigh Youth captain said the state of the playing surface and biased officiating cost the team maximum points in the opening fixture.
"We struggled to execute our plan as the playing surface wasn't good. The referee wasn't fair enough, but we appreciate the point she made. I know we will do better in the next round of matches," he said, giving his assessment of the game.
