Vihiga Bullets rebrands to Samwest Blackboots
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 07.07.24. | 20:31
The change comes nine months after Bullets merged with Samwest following financial turbulence
National Super League (NSL) outfit Vihiga Bullets have completed the change of name to Samwest Blackboots, Mozzart Sport firmly reports.
The change comes nine months after Bullets merged with Samwest following financial turbulence, which forced the then Vihiga County-based team to seek new owners to ensure their continuity, which in turn came with the option of switching names.
However, they had to operate as Vihiga Bullets for the entire 2023–2024 season since a deal was struck in the middle of the campaign, which made it hard for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to initiate the name change process.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Samwest Chairman Isaac Mwaura confirmed the development, stating they had received confirmation from the football governing body in the country that a swap of names was on the cards and the same will be replicated when fixtures for the new campaign are generated.
“I have confirmation that from next season we will operate as Samwest Blackboots; we experienced difficulties in having the name changed in the middle of the season,” he offered.
Mwaura adds that the swapping of names will go a long way in giving the team a community identity and bringing them closer to their fan base.
“The name change is a blessing to the team; we now have our identity and fans can associate themselves with us, not like before,
"We expect to maintain our culture and give the community more priority at the club, which will be reflected even in our off-season signings.”
The club administrator hinted at multiple signings by the club in the ongoing player registration phase as they seek a top-five finish next season.
Bullets were lucky to avoid the chop last term after spending much of the first leg in the bottom three of the league but a change in the back-room staff provided a ray of hope as they slew giants to finish fourteenth on the twenty-team log.
“Towards the end of the season, we showed people what they should expect from us going forward, and that is what we are going to focus on in the transfer window: we want to sign players who can help us get a top-five finish at the very least,” he concluded.
Upon approval, the deal will add to the long list of clubs that have recently bought slots in the upper leagues and changed the names to suit their operations.
Among the clubs to merge and swap names in recent times are Wazito FC to Muhoroni Youth, Nairobi Stima's merger with Darajani Gogo, Nairobi United and EPZ Balaji merger, and Mwatate United to Dimba Patriots.
Other teams to rebrand this term include Mulembe United from Vihiga United, Sunderland Naivasha from Keroche, Compel SC from Nyota FC and Malindi United from Malindi Progressive
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