Sports
Administration Police Service (APS) Bomet Football Club have unveiled 14 new players to boost their squad ahead of the new 2024/25 National Super League season which will kick off this weekend.
The players include Stanley Kimeli (Green commandos), Peter Masinde (Webuye Sportif), Isaac Mwabila (Green beret fc), Cantrex K (Kapkatet Youth fc), Joseph Masibo and Mathews Andera, (Bungoma Superstars) and Sakim Andale (Tusker Youth).
Others include Cosmas Abata, Tony Mabel, Felix Mutai, Kevin Shakava, Evans Murigi, Brian Ngala (all from Administration Police), and Salim Andale from Tusker Youth FC. The club also unveiled Evans Mafuta as the new head coach. The experienced tactician, who joined the law enforcers from Vihiga Bullets, has also coached Mwatate United, Nakuru Youths, Stima United, and Eldoret Youths.
During the function at Bomet IAAF stadium, club chairman Stephen Musyoka expressed optimism that the new signings will help in getting good results in the second top-tier league. “As the team, we are ready for the new seasons and the bringing in of the new energies, will help boost all the departments, win the league, and secure a spot in the Kenya Premier League,” said Musyoka, who is also Bomet Central, Sub-county AP Commander.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Mafuta, who said that the new blood in the team will boost the team’s overall performance. He added that he has enough experience required for the best play and that will improve the team’s results in the league.
“I am proud of my new team and the management on their performance that made them to be where they are now. I am glad to join this club and inject coaching experience to the team towards winning and taking the team to the top-flight league,” said Mafuta.
The coach expressed confidence in the new squad saying that they have prepared well even for their opening home match against Modern Coast Rangers at Bomet IAAF stadium. The Bomet-based team is making a second comeback to the National Super League after the 2021-2022 season victory was not recognized by FKF on the grounds of failing to honor some of their matches.
They were relegated to Division One league and emerged as the winners in zone ‘B’ after amassing 60 points having played 30 matches. During the season, APs Bomet won the NSL and were promoted to the Kenyan Premier League under the FKF Caretaker Committee but got a rude shock after the reinstated FKF National Executive Committee declared seasons under the caretaker committees null and void.
This means there was no promotion or relegation in the FKF leagues. They are the fifth team from South Rift to play in the top two leagues after Brooke Bond and Zoo Kericho. Brooke Bond joined the league in 1999 after winning the National Super League Western Zone but was relegated just three years later.
They were later disbanded following the exit of sponsors Brooke Bond Limited. Zoo Kericho joined the top-flight league in 2017 but their stay was short-lived. They were demoted following a guilty verdict by Fifa on accusations of match manipulation.
The others are Silibwet Leons from Bomet, who were relegated from NSL to Division One league, and Mara Sugar FC from Narok County, who were promoted to KPL this season.
