- Kibwage has been without a club for almost a year and a half
- He joins on a one-year contract
- The brewers are looking to strengthen more in the mid-season window
FKF Premier League champions Tusker FC have roped in their first signing of the mid-season transfer window by signing up defender Mike Kibwage on a one-year contract. Kibwage has been training with the team since December with the aim of joining the 12-time champions.
Kibwage had been away from active football for almost 20 months due to a transfer tussle he had with his former employers Sofapaka.
Kibwage had left Batoto ba Mungu in protest after he failed to secure part of his sign-on fee when he joined them from KCB. Efforts to have the money paid up to him were fruitless and he resorted to leave the club.
In effect, Sofapaka refused to give him his release letter and the players refused to go back to the club, optimg to train on his own until his contract ran out.
Great feeling to sign for Tusker
Mike Kibwage and Tusker CEO Sam Nzau
“It is a great feeling. I have been out for long and I am thankful to come back especially to a big club and champions. I have been welcomed well and I am ready for the task,” said Kibwage, speaking to Tusker FC after signing his contract.
“This has been a great place and from day one I was welcomed well and I felt like family. There is a lot of love in the team and it was not so hard to gel in,” he added.
The defender will only be eligible to play for the Brewers as from February 27 when the transfer window opens and his availability will be a welcome boost for the brewers who have been struggling defensively since the start of the new year.
The defender says he had been struggling with fitness, but now feels his body is in okay form and is ready to play once the opportunity presents itself.
Struggled a bit with fitness
Mike Kibwage and Tusker CEO Sam Nzau
“I had stayed for a long time without playing and when I first came I struggled a bit because the others had already picked up. But now, I feel at par with everyone and I am ready to play,” said Kibwage.
Tusker are currently sixth in the standings, and they will hope the defender’s arrival will spur their resurgence as the second half of the season starts in March.
The brewers recently let go of utility player Clyde Senaji and midfielder Apollo Otieno while Isaac Kipyegon is still out due to his match fixing case.
The brewers are said to be keen on signing Nzoia Sugar’s Kevin Juma and Joseph Mwangi to strengthen their team. They are also actively in the market for a left back after Boniface ‘Kajos’ Onyango was ruled out for more than four months after undergoing knee surgery.
They are currently forced to play Daniel Sakari, a right footed player, on the left side of defense.
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