After missing action the whole of last season, forgotten KCB FC midfielder Michael Mutinda hopes to skipper the team to their first league title in the new campaign.Mutinda last played a competitive match in April last year, when he picked up a knee injury while in action against Tusker FC at the Ruaraka Grounds. He later underwent surgery the following month to repair his torn Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACL) on his left knee.##NAJAVA_MECA_8275734##There were hopes that the defensive midfielder would return in the second leg of last season but going under the knife again in August last year complicated the plan.Having recovered and taken part in pre-season, Mutinda, one of the longest-serving players at the club, hopes to fulfil one of the dreams he had when he was named club captain in April 2022.”We have been title contenders in nearly all the seasons since gaining promotion six years ago. We have gained the experience and I believe we will deliver in the new season,” he said. Gor Mahia full back speaks on his future after being overlooked in recent assignmentsKCB came close to claiming their first-ever major title last season but fell short after losing the Mozzart Bet Cup to Kenya Police in the final.The Bankers lost 8-7 on post-match penalties following a barren draw in regular time in the final staged at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in June.Mutinda says lessons picked from the superb run in the tournament coupled with the fresh legs introduced in the team will play a key role in their bid for titles.”We had a good run in the cup but lost it through a shootout. We missed key players in the final who are regular penalty-takers. Despite the loss, we gathered more experience which will definitely help in the new campaign,” he added.Mark Shaban on why snubbing AFC Leopards for Gor Mahia was the best decisionMutinda joined KCB in 2018 from the now-defunct Thika United.He made his Harambee Stars debut in March 2021 in a friendly match against Tanzania at the Nyayo National Stadium.
