Last season league runners-up Tusker FC have announced the signing of five new faces to beef up their squad ahead of the new 2023/24 Football Kenya Federation Premier League campaign set to kick off on August 26.
Top on the new names shifting base to Ruaraka include highly rated Joseph Mwangi who has completed his switch from Nzoia Sugar where he put in one of the standout performances last season as he scored 14 goals and added another seven assists to lead the sugar millers to an impressive fourth place finish on 64 points, just six behind champions Gor Mahia.
Owing to his form, Mwangi attracted the attention of Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat and earned his maiden call up to the national team in June as the team travelled to Mauritius to take part in the Four Nations Series.
The speedy player, who finished third in the top scorer charts, is expected to bolster Tusker’s attack with his movement, football intelligence and his understanding of game situations earning him high praise in the football circles.
James Kibande has also made his way to the Brewers from Kenya Police FC. The winger played the second half of last season at Nzoia Sugar alongside Mwangi after a brief loan spell back to his boyhood club where he had previously seved between January 2019 to August last year.
“Our second arrival is from Kenya Police FC, winger James Kibande. Karibu Ruaraka Kiba!” Tusker posted.
The two players will be joined by Fabian Adikiny and Ugandan international John Byamukama.
While midfield general Adikiny will be joining from Murang’a Seal who gained promotion to the top tier for the first time in their history after their second-place finish in the 22/23 National Super League, Byamukama joins from Ugandan outfit Gaddafi FC.
The twelve-time Kenyan champions have completed the five man list by promoting goalkeeper Edwin Simiyu from their youth team where he has been stationed for the last three seasons.
The signings are expected to cover the gaps left behind after the team parted ways with eight players, with the biggest surprise being the exit of captain Humphrey Mieno, who, despite being arguably their best player in the 2022–2023 season, was let go after the expiration of his contract.
Others shown the door included goalkeeper Michael Wanjala, Tanzanian defender Kalos Kirenge, midfielders Jackson Macharia, Shami Mwinyi, right-back Kevin Monyi and South Sudanese striker David Majak.
The brewers commence their 2023–24 campaign with a match against Bandari FC.
