Silibwet Leons Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eric Rono has cited financial constraints as the main factor for the relegation of the club in the just-concluded National Super League (NSL) season.Silibwet, Gusii, and Kajiado FC are the three clubs that suffered the drop following a gruesome nine months of thrilling encounters in the second tier.Despite having a good squad, Rono says the poor welfare and motivation stemming from a lack of funds undermined their efforts.##NAJAVA_MECA_8204376##The club boss also noted that during the January transfer window, he lost key players to rival teams since he couldn’t match their demands.The Bomet-based club lost teenager Lakton Kiprotich to APS Bomet, Dennis Kipkoech to Mara Sugar, and captain Jimmy Carragher to fourth-tier side Rware City.”The team was just surviving; our financial resources were so low that we could not cater for food, travel, and motivate players with good incentives,” he told Mozzart Sport.Tyson Otieno aims to regain form next seasonRono adds, “I lost key players and a coach in the middle of the campaign. When teams came approaching, I couldn’t deny them the chance to leave because we were unable to pay them. Officiating also played a key role in our struggles. “It reached a point where no single decision went our way. Take the example of the Mombasa Stars match, where the team was late by eight minutes, but the match officials ended up awarding a walkover against us.”Two seasons ago, Leons were in good standing with President William Ruto, who was tipped to take over the team as the patron after gifting them a minibus to ease transport logistics.However, the deal never materialized, and Rono provides insight into the failed plan.”Ruto was almost taking over the team as a patron when he was the deputy president, but immediately he became the president, it was tough since he was now leading a nation, and it could give the impression that he is leaning on a specific team, which is not good,” he explained.”Plans are still underway, and soon we will have a meeting at the State House to try and sell the project to him.”Mathare united boss labels NSL as tooucghest league in KenyaWhat next after the demotion to the third tier? Rono says they plan to build a strong team that will mount an immediate return to the second tier.”We had options, and until last Saturday, we had decided to give up on the slot and try some other things, but now we have agreed to keep up with the project, bring in players we can manage, and try to get back to the NSL instantly.”Leons will be taking part in the FKF Division One Zone B and are expected to resume training early next month.
