Nairobi City Stars seek respite against Bidco United with new Japanese striker locked out until 2024

© Nairobi City Stars.

FOOTBALL Nairobi City Stars seek respite against Bidco United with new Japanese striker locked out until 2024

Joel Omotto 08:00 - 03.09.2023

Simba wa Nairobi have had a difficult week following news that their own ‘Mitoma’ will not be available until January but can chart a new path with a win against Bidco on Sunday

Nairobi City Stars will be looking to put what has been rather a disappointing week behind them as they face Bidco United in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday.

City Stars could only manage a goalless draw against Muhoroni Youth on matchday one, a match they failed to field their new Japanese striker Yuto Kusaba.

That was due to the late clearance of the striker but the club has now confirmed that Kusaba will not be available until at least January 2024 after failing to be registered on time.

“Yuto transferred to Nairobi City Stars in the past week from Embu-based FC Zenshin, a fourth-tier side featuring in FKF Division Two (Northern Zone), in time for the new season,” club chairman Patrick Korir said via a statement on the club’s website.

“Notwithstanding, it emerged thereafter that international guidelines of the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS) had not been met prior to his move to Simba wa Nairobi. That position can only be rectified in the next international transfer window that reopens on 1st January 2024.”

“Based on the foregoing, Yuto, a former player with St Andrews University, and Basara Hyogo in Japan before coming to Kenya as a volunteer with an Embu-based NGO, where he got the opportunity to feature for FC Zenshin, will have to wait beyond the year 2023 to have a feel of the Kenyan topflight.”

Simba wa Nairobi had hoped to unleash the left-footed striker from the off after impressing them on trials and coach Nicholas Muyoti will now be forced to rely largely on youngster Kelvin Etemesi who impressed last season.

Bidco also come into the match on the back of their goalless draw against Posta Rangers last week, adding spark to the fixture.

Both teams played largely to avoid relegation last season, with Bidco securing a 13th place finish while City Stars were 15th, but they are hoping for an improved run in 2023-24.

City Stars warmed up for the match with a 4-0 win over Kayole Youth in a friendly tie on Thursday.