Bandari youngster eyes new contract

Bandari creative midfielder Keegan Ndemi believes that his performance before the league was halted will compel the management to initiate talks and renew his contract. 

The youthful midfielder who joined the dockers in 2018 after finishing his O level studies at Barding High School has seven months remaining in his current contract.

Although the club has not formally approached him to negotiate for an extension, the former Harambee Stars Under 20 player has stacked hope in his show before league action was halted to procure him another bumper deal with the coastal side.

Keegan had established himself as a key player in Andre Casa Mbungo's first team before the presidential decree, filling the rather big shoes left by Ugandan play maker William Wadri who was converted to a centre forward.

"Before the league was stopped, I was on top of my game. I believe I had showed the technical bench and the management sufficient reasons to retain me once my contract expires. Bandari signed me straight after finishing my secondary school studies and it is my wish to repay their gamble and faith by serving them for another spell," he said.

Keegan who revealed that Wadri was his role model opened up on his journey to walking and cementing his stay in the starting team.

The national U23, Emerging Stars trialist who returned to Bandari last year after a one season loan stint with Sony Sugar had endured a torrid time in breaking to the starting team but the arrival of Mbungo in January and a red card dished to the former in a league match against Kakamega Homeboyz saw fortunes lean to his side.

The Rwandese gaffer who replaced Kennedy Odhiambo trusted the youngster with the play making roles for the time Wadri was serving his two-match ban only for the youngster to convince him he was equal to the task.

To accommodate Wadri in his team, the former AFC Leopards boss was forced to throw Wadri in the striking department and surprisingly he banged in goals at will.

"Before Mbungo came, I was not getting sufficient time but everything played to my advantage when Wadri was red-carded against Homeboyz. The coach trusted me and I took the chance with both hands. I had to work hard to show the coach I was talented enough to match the standards my role model had set in the number ten position. When he came back from suspension, he was deployed to the forward role and we have been combining well to give the club goals," he added.