On May 19, 2024, Bungoma-based Nzoia Sugar FC confirmed relegation from the FKF Premier League after an eight-year stint.The team played to a barren draw with Nairobi City Stars in the do-or-die match.This season has been a particularly tough one for them as they lost 20 of the 31 matches played, drawing seven and winning only four.Muhoroni Youth defender rallying teammates on in race for relegationMozzart Sport caught up with the former player turned chairman of the club Evance Kadenge who explained that financial constraints were the key reason behind their relegation.The club was sponsored by Nzoia Sugar factory before its nosedive. In recent years, the company’s financial woes have deepened to the extent that their workers’ salaries have accrued for more than two years.“We lack financial support. Getting a sponsor is difficult. For a club to operate, we have to pay allowances and salaries. When the company started going down, we lost many of our good players to other teams,” Kadenge offered.##NAJAVA_MECA_8142248##During last year’s transfer window, the club lost several of its best players to AFC Leopards. They included Humphrey Katasi, Kevin Juma, Hassan Beja, and midfielder Boniface Munyendo.“If we do not pay our players and they get better deals, we lose them. We lost some of our best players to AFC Leopards. At the time of their departure, we still owed them money,” Kadenge revealed.The long-serving chairman called for support from corporates and companies to return the club back to its glory days. He noted that with the newly-christened Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, the level of competition would be heightened if they returned back to the top flight.“We urge different companies to support the team. If we get a sponsor, we will be able to compete like back then. Now we have the stadium. If we were still playing the top tier, we would host teams like AFC Leopards, Tusker, and Gor Mahia, and fans would flock to the stadium. That will be a good revenue-generating venture for any sponsor. I urge them to capitalize on that,” he averred.Sofapaka defender receives late Harambee Stars call-upAt the same time, the team’s coach Mike Muiruri has assured fans that they will be in the cold for only a season. He noted that they were eyeing immediate return.“We have accepted that we are heading to the National Super League (NSL). We want to make sure that we return to the top tier as fast as possible, hopefully after just a season,” he revealed.For Muiruri, beating AFC Leopards 2-1 during the Madaraka Day Cup was a clear indication that his charges were determined to bounce back. He explained that they were grooming the younger players for the challenge.“We are building some young players, most of whom are secondary school students. We are building a team with enough depth to conquer the NSL and ensure we are competitive upon return to the KPL,” he noted.Already relegated Nzoia face Ulinzi Stars (June 16), Muhoroni Youth (June 19) and Sofapaka (June 23) in their remaining matches.
