2022/2023: third-best scoring National Super League (NSL) striker Amos Kigadi is optimistic that Mulembe United will avoid the chop this season and book another campaign in the second tier.Kigadi, who is among the veterans at the club, has seen it all with the team, playing in the top flight before facing demotion to the second tier and having to survive with a lean squad last season before Mulembe came to the rescue.##NAJAVA_MECA_7898661##The striker, who has won the Sports Journalist Player of the Month awards twice, has tipped Mulembe, formerly Vihiga United, to perform in the second phase of the league and secure survival, if not a top-ten finish.Mulembe finds themselves seventeenth on the twenty-team log with 19 points after 20 matches, a performance the seasoned striker attributes to minimum or no pre-season at the start of the campaign, as well as the recent squad overhaul done at the Mumias-based team.Despite the recent struggles, he believes the team has now gelled and the levels of chemistry have improved, pointing to the recent shake-up in the technical bench that has seen experienced Edward Manoah take over the reins from Mike Mururi.“Our target now is to maintain the league status. It was a bit tough when the season started because we did not have a pre-season at all, and then mid-season we had a shake-up in the team with the majority of our players moving with the current. We are not only going to survive but also build a team for the future,” he told Mozzart Sport.“The coaches have drilled the squad well during the breaks, and with a young squad, opponents should be worried,” he added.Mozzart Bet Cup: AFC Leopards to face Shabana as round 16 pairings are revealedThe forward, who was a target for AFC Leopards earlier last season before the Big Cats decided to pursue other targets talking about his failed moves, noted that he turned down moves in a bid to help Mulembe as he felt his services were in dire need at the club.“I had offers from Premier League clubs and other NSL sides, but I decided to stay as I felt Vihiga needed me the most. In the previous window, most of the players had made moves, and we could not sign, so it was basic knowledge for me as one of the veterans to stay and offer support,” said Kigadi.“AFC Leopards made an approach, but they never came back. I was made to understand their interest was on cheaper options; maybe free agents, then offers from NSL outfits were never appealing,” he added.The goal-poacher who opened his scoring accounts last week against Darajani Gogo after a long battle with an injury that had limited his game time has sent a stern warning to league-leading scorers as he targets to outscore them and run away with the Golden Boot, which elapsed him narrowly last season.Tusker defender Daniel Sakari dedicates goal, qualification to daughterFormer Mara Sugar striker Philemon Nyakwaka, now with KCB FC Philemon Nyakwaka leads the charts with 16 goals, with Gusii’s Joshua Ratemo and Kisumu All Stars’ Michael Karamor coming a distant second on nine goals, which the experienced striker believes he can catch up with.“I feel better after a long struggle with an injury, I am pumped, and this is the season that I am going for the Golden Boot, the confidence is there, and I can see the strikers are not scoring, something they should be worried about since I am here now. With the remaining matches, let’s see if we can get 18 strikes,” he concluded.Kigadi will have a chance to double his tally when Mulembe entertains Nairobi United this weekend at the Mumias Sports Complex.
