Mulembe United will have a second bite at the cherry come 2024/15 National Super League (NSL) season. A dominant 3-0 victory over SS Assad set the Vihiga-based side safe and will now work on redeeming their fallen state.Coach Edward Manoah’s men, having spent a decent amount of time in the drop zone, managed to pull themselves up, mainly banking on their mid-season signings to notch crucial wins. Edging Assad 3-0 and MCF 3-2 the week before that pulled them in huge strides up. Squad depth however, had still remained an issue and Kevin Mwavali, a seasoned midfielder in the region- was deployed mostly in the centre-back position. Staying up, he says, means they now have enough time to regroup. ‘’Surviving was the first task and even though it has been tough, we deserved a second chance. We worked really hard for it,’’ says Mwavali who has in the past played for Tanzanian side Fountain Gate FC. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8173426##United, who in the past went by Vihiga United before managerial changes at the club midway through the season, did away with more than half the unit and new faces brought in. Coach Manoah, also returning to the club after a few years out, mainly went for youthful players from the region yet to be tested with second tier football. Mwavali thinks the youngsters proved their mettle. ‘’That has always been the philosophy with our coach. He gives a chance to deserving players and in return, they make a name for themselves. The new players who came in were mostly young and they did their part in helping the team maintain the NSL slot,’’ he continues. Mozzart Sport’s National Super League Team of the SeasonThe lanky midfielder, who has in the past earned promotion to the Kenyan Premier League with Vihiga Bullets, now sets sights for the same feat with United. And he has a team of players who have achieved the same in the past even if with other different clubs. United is captained by Amos Kigadi and Patrick Okello, both of whom were in Coach Manoah’s Vihiga United side that once graced the premier league. Johnstone Muyesu, Dennis Ombeva and Ken Onzere are the other trio not new to guiding teams to promotion and Mwavali is confident they have the perfect blend of such a team. ‘’Nearly everyone here has already played in the premier league but most importantly we played for teams that we helped with promotion. So I can say we have the experience to come back stronger next season and go all out. The youngsters give us a perfect blend and when our coaches do more recruiting, I am sure we will be a stronger side,’’ he continues. United still have an away trip to Mombasa Elite who sit precariously in 17th position and just three points above Kajiado FC. United on the other hand, lie 16th and with an unassailable (to the relegation lot) 38 points.
