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Mara Sugar purge claims eight as rebuilding starts
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 25.07.25. | 13:46
The shake-up follows a tumultuous 2023/24 campaign in which the top-flight debutants narrowly escaped relegation
Mara Sugar FC have parted ways with eight players as the club begins an aggressive rebuilding process ahead of their second season in the FKF Premier League.
The shake-up follows a tumultuous 2023/24 campaign in which the debutants narrowly escaped relegation, finishing 14th with 36 points, just one above the drop zone, despite a promising start to their top-flight journey.
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After a strong opening half of the season, the sugar millers’ form nosedived in the second leg, managing just two wins in their final 17 matches. Not even sweeping managerial changes during the season could arrest the slump.
The club dismissed George Midenyo and brought in National Super League title-winning coach Benedict Wanjala, but performances remained uninspiring.
Eventually, the club turned to former Kakamega Homeboyz coach Edward Manoah in a last-ditch effort to salvage their campaign.
While the experienced tactician oversaw some stabilization, results remained inconsistent, and Mara were only able to secure survival on the final day of the season.
Despite league struggles, the team found relative success in the Mozzart Bet Cup, where they reached the semi-finals, finishing fourth overall in their second appearance in the domestic cup competition.
Now, with the new season just two months away, the club has moved swiftly to initiate structural changes, releasing eight players as part of a major squad overhaul.
The list of those released includes experienced midfielder Ruben Mita (formerly of Ulinzi Stars), Kisumu All Stars duo Noah Jagongo and Steve Otieno, former Murang’a Seal attacker Erick Juma, youthful goalkeeper Samuel Oluoch, ex-Migori Youth and Fortune Sacco midfielder Yussuf Ochieng, one-time Mombasa Elite left-back Woodvine Okoth, and former Shabana FC midfielder Christopher Raila.
Sources within the club indicate that further departures are expected in the coming weeks as the management seeks to retool and build a more competitive squad under Manoah’s guidance.
