Mulembe coach welcomes the lifting of the transfer ban, aims for a top-five finish

Mulembe FC head coach Samuel Twago is elated with the fact that the club can inject fresh blood into the team after FIFA lifted the player transfer ban.

Mulembe, who operated as Vihiga United last season and the preceding ones, were unable to strengthen their squad after the football governing body slapped the outfit with a transfer ban.

The club landed in FIFA's bad books for failing to pay Nigerian striker Junior Adeyefa his salary arrears on time, compelling him to seek justice in Zurich.

However, Twago and his backroom staff had something to smile about two weeks ago when the management of the club cleared with the former player, and consequently, the ban was lifted.

Apart from paying Adeyefa, the club also rebranded to Mulembe and announced that former Kakamega County Senator Cleophas Malala will be the new patron going forward.

The Football Kenya Federation handed the club a ten-day grace period outside the transfer window to sign players, as the ban was lifted just a few days before the closure of the signing period.

Twago said the lifting of the ban will allow him to have depth in the current season, unlike in the past one, where the club had to deal with just twelve players.

"I am happy the ban was lifted. We have managed to sign some players who will enable us to compete. We struggled with an extremely lean squad last season," he said.

Having been cleared to sign, Twago hopes that the new players will help the club achieve a top-five finish.

The former Soy United tactician said it was impossible to challenge for automatic promotion this season as the team didn't have pre-season training.

"We haven't gelled enough, as the players reported late. It will take us a while, but once the chemistry levels go up, we will be able to finish inside the top five brackets," added Twago.

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