KCB head coach Benard Mwalala has expressed confidence in the capacity of his charges to bounce back from a string of losses in their recent Kenyan Premier League encounters.
The Nairobi-based bankers have had a serious jolt in their aspirations for a maiden national title after enduring a six-match winless streak.
Despite the setback, Mwalala reckons they possess the much-needed resilience to rise from the ashes and reignite their charge for a maiden top-flight silverware.
The experienced gaffer, who joined from Ulinzi Stars in the preceding season, attributed their dip in performance to mass player departure during the just-concluded mid-season transfer window.
“We lost a good number of dependable players, who were instrumental in the team’s successful run early in the season,” Mwalala remarked.
“I had a strong squad and the players had already gelled properly before rival clubs raided our camp. We must start building another winning squad from scratch.”
KCB parted ways with more than 10 players and brought in almost a similar number.
The departures include first-choice custodian Bryne Omondi and razor-sharp striker Francis Kahiro both of whom found a new home at Bandari.
The tactician further blamed a growing list of injuries, saying all their departments have been affected.
“We have some brilliant players sitting out with injuries and this too has affected our operations big time. We can only hope to see them back in action as soon as possible,” Mwalala stated.
“All in all, I believe we still have enough players who can successfully step up for the job. They only need some polishing to get them to the desired level.”
The list of players with injuries includes Victor Omondi, Stephen Etyang, Kevin Okumu, Nashon Alembi and Kennedy Owino.
Mwalala urged his charges to muster up enough courage to put up a valiant fight in their upcoming fixtures.
“Football moments can be harsh sometimes and this is a fact that we should learn to accept. We need to find the courage to shake off our past shortcomings and rise to the occasion in our subsequent matches,” Mwalala remarked.
“We need to exercise patience in the face of current adversity and work towards finding our footing in the competition once again.”
KCB, who are 10th with 29 points, have an acid test against high-flying Tusker at Ruaraka grounds on Sunday.
