Zico: KCB will only sign quality players
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 25.01.21. | 12:35
Picky KCB unlikely to sign new players in January transfer window with Coach Zico leaving door open only to the best.
Just as he has been in the opening eight fixtures of the Football Kenya Premier League (FKFPL), KCB Head Coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno is approaching the recently opened transfer window tactically to ensure he recruits only suitable additions.
His table-topping side will not go into the player market just for the sake of adding depth. In fact, Zico hinted at the possibility of staying completely off the market unless interesting prospects come by.
KCB is in good stead to lift its maiden title having blasted off the blocks in terrific speed with seven wins in eight matches. The rich vein of form has sent them soaring atop the log on 21 points, one more than Tusker, with the bankers having a game in hand.
And Zico's acclaimed tactics are written all over KCB's games; slim victories and clean sheets resulting in the healthiest goal difference in the division.
The former Kenyan international defender has masterminded a splendid start for the bankers with the team's ruthless efficiency and mean defending coming to the fore. Having gauged opponents' strength after eight fixtures, Zico is happy with the squad at his disposal and will only allow special additions into the fold.
With the mid-season transfer window now officially opened, he says it will be an uphill task for his side to find a good player who can join the leaders.
He went against the grain in the last transfer window, signing just six players while contemporaries signed in double digits.
“Like any other team, you always need to get good players. But the problem with the mid-season transfer window is that most of these good players have running contracts with their respective teams tying them to their clubs. We will try and add one or two good players but I know it is difficult. At the moment we do not have any prospects,” said Zico after their 3-1 win against Western Stima in Nakuru.
Coming off a 2-1 loss to AFC Leopards, Zico’s charges headed for the Stima match keen to return to the top of the league. Their opener came in the 26th minute through Simon Munala as he converted a spot-kick awarded after Stima’s James Odhiambo handled the ball inside the box.
Baron Oketch handed the power men an equalizer in the 52nd minute but the bankers went ahead again in the 62nd minute through Henry Onyango. Second-half substitute Victor Omondi put the match to bed with a 70th minute through a volley.
“Against Western Stima we were more serious. In the AFC Leopards’ defeat, we were losing a lot of second balls and were not fast enough on tackles. We rectified those mistakes and are now back to winning ways. Going forward my players will have to be more composed in front of the goal. We had numerous scoring opportunities in the first half of our match against Stima that ended up not utilized. It is important to take our chances, especially in the first half as it makes it difficult for the opponent to come back,” added Zico.
KCB next face struggling Ulinzi Stars on Sunday in Nakuru.
