KCB Football Club have acquired five new players to beef up their squad ahead of the 2023/24 season that officially kicks off on Saturday.
Renowned striker, Derrick Otanga rejoins the club from Kenya Police after departing the law enforcers in search of more game time. He will don jersey number 20.
The bankers have also acquired two defenders. These are Herit Mungai, a 23-year-old left-back, from Nairobi City Stars and Bernard Odhiambo, who formerly played for Bandari FC.
Midfielder Stephen Etyang comes in from Ulinzi Stars and goalkeeper Brian Olang’o joins from Mathare United.
Assistant coach Elvis Ayani observed that the team are highly motivated and ready for the season to start.
“The boys are highly motivated ahead of the new season and we cannot wait to get underway. We have been preparing for it with the new boys coming in. Otanga, who is an old KCB boy, knows the team well and he has been getting on well with the squad,” said Ayani while unveiling the new players.
Otanga rose to fame in the 2020/21 season when he won the Golden Boot with 16 goals.
The bankers kick off their campaign for the elusive KPL title on September 1 against AFC Leopards at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
This is after the postponement of their game against Kakamega Homeboyz, earlier scheduled for this weekend.
Otanga said he is happy to be back and keen to work with new coach Bernard Mwalala.
“I am very happy to be back home after my short stint at Police. This is a place I know very well and even though I have not worked under coach Mwalala before, he has been instrumental in enabling us to settle in with the rest of the squad,” said Otanga.
“There is of course enormous pressure for me to bang in the goals and, hopefully, help KCB lift the title this season."
Mwalala has appointed goalkeeper Gabriel Andika to captain the team in the absence of Michael Mutinda, who is still out injured. Midfielder Brian Ochieng will deputise him.
The Bankers finished fifth in the previous season with 64 points and they will be looking up to Otanga to lead them in the hunt for a maiden KPL title.
