Nairobi City Stars' recent signing Japanese striker Yuto Kusaba will be unavailable for the first part of the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season, the club’s chief executive officer, Patrick Korir has announced.
Korir, however, expressed optimism that the exciting Japanese will be available in the second leg of the season.
He said it emerged that international guidelines of the Fifa Transfer Matching System (TMS) had not been met prior to his move to Simba wa Nairobi thus locking him out of the first leg of the season.
However, the CEO noted that the position can only be rectified in the next international transfer window that reopens on January 1, 2024.
Based on the foregoing, Korir said Yuto will have to wait beyond this year to have a feel of the Kenyan topflight.
Yuto was a former player with St. Andrew's University and Basara Hyogo in Japan before coming to Kenya as a volunteer with an Embu-based NGO, where he got the opportunity to feature for FC Zenshin.
Yuto transferred to Nairobi City Stars in the past week from Embu-based FC Zenshin, a fourth-tier side featuring in FKF Division Two (Northern Zone), in time for the new season.
Earlier, Yuto expressed his excitement after signing for Simba Wa Nairobi.
“I have become the first Asian player in the Kenya Premier League. I hope to score some goals,” he noted
During the transfer window, City Stars signed nine players. The nine include two goalkeepers: Julius Ombacho from Luanda Villa, and Edwin Mukolwe ( Bidco United).
Also joining City Stars are—centreback Wycliffe Omondi and defensive midfielder Brian Omondi Mzee from National Super League sides, Migori Youth and Kibera Black Stars, respectively.
Experienced center-back Sosthenes Idah has also joined Nairobi City Stars with his last workstation having been Polisi Tanzania.
Wingers Robinson Asenwa from third-tier side Vapor Sports, and teenager Gilbert Abala from lower-tier side Busia Sugar FC, are also in for the season.
Strikers Brian Mose Nyambane and Kusaba from Division Two sides Total Spurs (Narok), and FC Zenshin (Embu), respectively complete the singings for the season.
