Eldoret Youth get new owner, relocate to Kinoru Stadium

Barry Silah @obel_barry

Last season league debutants Eldoret Youth has formally changed ownership after a group of individuals purchased it for Sh5 million. 

The North Rift side that finished in 12th place last campaign will now shift base to Meru’s Kinoru Stadium and relocate to Isiolo town. 

The team also changes its name to Northern Wanderers with insiders’ privy to the details confirming that National Assembly Majority leader and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale is  behind the takeover of the club.

Pundits are however questioning the monetary valuation agreed upon with most arguing it was way too low for a club in the second tier. The team will maintain the yellow stripes for home matches and white for away fixtures. 

Many clubs have been struggling financially and some are also in negotiations for purchase especially in the NSL as running of logistics and operations continue to be burdensome.

Meanwhile the twin Kenya Power-owned teams of Nairobi Stima and Coast Stima have acquired new coaches in a bid to improve their tidings in the Championship especially after losing key personnel in the off-season. 

Leonard Odipo and Paul Ogai who had Kenya Premier League (KPL) stints with Tusker and Western Stima respectively will now take charge of the clubs with the latter keen to improve standings from the eighth position they held last season. 

Nairobi Stima who lost marginally in the playoffs in June against Posta Rangers thus losing out on promotion is vowing to go all the way for the title after the hiring of experienced Odipo assisted by Evans Mafuta.

In Mombasa, Coast Stima will be looking at Ogai who also had stint with Kisumu Allstars in 2017 to restore parity. The welfare sponsored club is carrying out trials to spruce up the unit.