Obure: Mathare United back to basics eyeing Premier League return
FILES: Mathare United's John Kuol and Brian Okeyo fight for the ball as their side played against Kariobangi Sharks at the Kasarani Annex Grounds on 4/25/2023. Photo/Vincent Ooro/Sportpicha
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The 2008 Premier League champions are featuring in Kenya’s second tier football league for the first time since 1999, after a string of disappointing seasons which culminated with the painful relegation.
“We are scouting players from Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) which is our organization consisting of 16 zones .We saw it wise to return to the grassroots, where we have leagues when schools are closed or during weekends and select players from this zones ,” said Obure, alluding to the MYSA leagues. Obure notes the strategy is already impacting the team positively.
The CEO has also disclosed that they have the necessary support from partners to sustain their march back to the Premier League, their main target this season.
“We faced some financial challenges in the recent seasons which resulted in the departure of some of our key players. However, during the last season we got some financiers who supported us to the end of the campaign and have continued to support us this season, with an aim of seeing us back in the Premier League next season,” underlined Obure.
Beyond the financial struggles, Obure says the stroke that broke the camel’s back was the scourge of match fixing.
“What really cost us last season was match fixing,” he recalled, and were forced to part ways with their coach then Boniface Omondi towards the end of the season as well as Lennox Ogutu and Alphonse Ndonye. The latter two were suspended from active football by Football Kenya Federation over match-fixing allegations.
On their way to relegation, Mathare United won eight games out of 34 finishing 17th with only 26 points.
According to Obure, the team has recovered from the relegation disappointment and hopes to finish top of the NSL table this season.
The Slum Boys will be hosting Vihiga United at the Ruaraka grounds in their second match this season on Sunday.
They began their NSL campaign with a barren draw against hosts Migori Youth last week at the Migori Stadium.
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