AFC Leopards youngsters Yusuf Mainge and Jeffari Owiti have left the club for trials in Slovakia and Spain respectively, club chairman Dan Shikanda has confirmed.
The two players were not part of the squad that left Nairobi on Sunday morning for Kakamega where the team is set to pitch its pre-season camp ahead of 2019/20 campaign where Leopards will be hoping to perform better after a disastrous 2018/19 season.
When reached for a comment, newly elected club chairman Dan Shikanda clarified that the pair have been invited for trials in Europe and the club has allowed them to try-out with the sides interested in their services.
‘I want to make it clear that Mainge and Owiti are still our players. They were invited for trials in Europe and we could not deny them this opportunity. Mainge is going to Slovakia while Owiti is heading to Spain. We do not have details of the clubs they are going to but we have decided to allow them go and try their luck out there,” he told Opera News.
Shikanda further stated that he is happy with how the team has began its pre-season preparations and believes the residential camp in Kakamega will be of great value to the team.
“The technical bench is doing a good job, so far so good. We’ve decided to take the players to camp so that they can prepare without any disruption. It will also build the team spirit and cohesiveness. Last season was a bad one for the team because we had problems right from pre-season and it reflected in our performance throughout the season. We want to get things right this time round, “he added.
Ingwe has so far signed one player. Burundian midfielder Tresor Ndikumana has joined the club on a two-year deal.
The club has axed 8 players who were part of the squad during the 2018/19 season. They are: Erick Ndayishimiye, Ivan Sekazza, Wayi Yeka, Marcel Kaheza, Paul Were, David Ochieng, Aziz Okaka and Shami Kibwana.