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Nairobi United coach delighted by Harambee Stars midfielder's return ahead of Gor Mahia clash
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 20.12.25. | 19:04
The Naibois are competing in the top flight for the first time and, despite an inconsistent start, remain firmly in the title conversation
Nairobi United head coach Nicolas Muyoti believes the timely return of versatile defender Manzur Suleiman Okwaro will be crucial as his side pushes for a respectable finish in their debut FKF Premier League campaign.
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The Naibois are competing in the top flight for the first time and, despite an inconsistent start, remain firmly in the title conversation.
With two games in hand, a strong run of results could significantly reshape their position on the table.
Their prospects have been boosted by the return of Okwaro, the club’s high-profile off-season signing who joined from KCB FC on the final day of the transfer window.
The defender’s debut, however, was delayed after he sustained a partial tear of the right distal biceps femoris tendon.
After rejoining full-team training last week, Okwaro made his long-awaited competitive return earlier this week as Nairobi United faced Tusker FC in a midweek league clash.
He had rested over the weekend against Murang’a Seal as a precaution but went on to feature for 45 minutes against Tusker.
Speaking after the match, Muyoti expressed his satisfaction at having the former Compel FC player back in action.
“I am happy Manzur is back,” Muyoti said, as quoted by Citizen Digital. “I decided to give him some minutes and felt it was best to start him and then substitute him.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t have played 90 minutes, but it was purely a precautionary measure. He has just returned to fitness, and we didn’t want to risk any setbacks.”
The Nairobi United coach also insisted on Okwaro’s importance to the squad, pointing to his experience and tactical flexibility.
“In the next match, we will see if it’s possible to give him more minutes. He is a big boost to us because we want him to bring the international experience he gained at CHAN 2024 into the team,” Muyoti added.
“We are lucky to have him back because he offers us more. Besides playing at the back, he can also be deployed offensively, and we can benefit from that versatility.”
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After 10 rounds of league action, Nairobi sit 11th on the FKFPL standings, though their two games in hand leave room for optimism.
Muyoti, a former Thika United midfielder, believes sharper finishing will be key to climbing the table.
“We have created so many chances, and had we converted them, I feel we would have put five goals past Tusker,” he reflected.
The City Boys now face a stern test against record league champions Gor Mahia on Sunday, a fixture that could further define their season.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and sharpen our goal-poaching skills. If we capitalise on our chances and continue to defend well, the team will do well and move up the standings,” Muyoti said.
Beyond domestic action, Naibois’ continental adventure has proven difficult. The club currently sits bottom of their CAF Confederation Cup group after suffering back-to-back defeats, a 3-0 loss away to Wydad Casablanca and a narrow 1-0 home defeat against AS Maniema Union.
