B. OdhiamboMara Sugar confident of promotion after last season's heartbreak
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 14.08.23. | 08:35
The millers finished in the fourth position after being in the promotion bracket for months.
Mara Sugar head coach Francis Xavier is confident that the team will gain automatic promotion to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League in the new season.
Mara were among the teams in contention for promotion in the 2022–2023 season but faded off in the second leg and, as a result, finished fourth.
The team was at some point battling for third place and trying their luck in the promotion/relegation playoff, but lost the battle to Migori Youth, who finished third. Migori went on to lose to Wazito FC in the playoffs.
Shabana and Murang'a Seal were promoted to the top tier directly after sweeping the two top slots.
Migori went on to lose to Wazito FC in the playoffs.
Ahead of the new season, Xavier is confident that his boys will mount a successful promotion campaign in the new season.
"We tried our best last season, but it wasn't good enough. We, however, picked up lessons and will go into the new season with an idea of what is required of us," he said in an interview with Mozzart Sport.
Xavier joined Mara in November last year after parting ways with 2008 Kenyan Premier League champions Mathare United.
The former AFC Leopards captain pointed out strengthening the squad and replacing the players who left the club for greener pastures as two of the top priorities in the pre-season.
Mara, who fell 7-4 to Muhoroni Youth on Sunday in a friendly game, lost striker Victor Ngume, who ditched the club for top-flight side Kariobangi Sharks.
"We will have to replace those who left and ensure there is quality in each department. The NSL is a difficult competition, and having depth is a key ingredient for success," he offered.
