FKF Premier League side Nairobi City Stars are expected to resume pre-season training on Monday 17 July, when head coach Nicholas Muyoti will get an opportunity to scour through what will make up their team next season, especially in an offseason that has seen quite a few things happen for his side.Following a 4-1 defeat to the eventual champions Gor Mahia that brought to a close their eventful season, the club had to part ways with their legendary player Anthony Kimani – now retired – and saw Peter Opiyo, another veteran – take up the roles as part of the technical bench members.And in the weeks following the opening of the transfer window, the club has seen a couple of on loan players – James Mazembe and Levis Okello – leave to their parent clubs, with dependable defender Kennedy Onyango departing to Gor Mahia.All this, as per Muyoti, has been a tough blow early on, especially given that he had earlier proposed having a bulk of players from last season available.##NAJAVA_MECA_7375579##“Well, as an organization we had to make some tough decisions,” Muyoti said of the few player exits. “It was not my wish to see Okello and Onyango leave, but its clear that we had the desire to have them within our ranks. Only that things didn’t work out as we wished, which is fine after all.”On Onyango leaving at the end of last season, Muyoti said: “His contract came to an end and for a player of his stature, I think it was the right step for him. He has been a wonderful servant to our team and making such a move can only mean that his performances go higher. “He is in a club that will play continental football. That’s his level. I want to see him play there. All our blessings are with him.”Nairobi City Stars confirm Vidic departureWith several reports indicating interests surrounding much of his young paying unit last season, Muyoti was at least delighted with the fact that winger Samuel Kapen walked his talk in extending his contract with the team for another year, with much expectation surrounding Mohamed Bajaber and Kevin Etemesi to follow suit.“Most of these young players have so many teams buzzing around them but its clear for us that their best opportunity to grow is at City Stars,” Muyoti added. “A year or two with us will have seen them adapt to various fundamentals in the Kenyan game – some of them we have experienced first hand – that we would like them to be aware of before making moves too soon that they may regret later.“We want them to understand that football is a process and will come to them at the right time. There is no need to rush only to find them as surplus to requirement.”With other players in the team pondering on their moves, Monday will present a good look at the team that finished 15th last season, paving way for potential additions, and a route to attack the 2023-24 season.
