Former Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) side Vihiga United, more recently Mulembe United, has had a decent start to the 2024/25 FKF National Super League (NSL) bagging two wins and a draw on the road. This undefeated streak, albeit too early to call, points to a rejuvenated side whose financial struggles the past few years have seen them only play to stay afloat in Kenya’s second tier.This new season, however, brings forth plenty of positive changes within the unit and defender Kevin Mwavali is aware of this. ‘’We learnt a lot last season even if it wasn’t our best in the club’s history. This season, we aim to pick all the points at home and play cautiously when away from home,’’ says the former Fountain Gate FC man.##NAJAVA_MECA_8405600##After notching two wins on the trot during the start, United, coached by promotion specialist Edward Manoah, was stopped by Kibera Black Stars in round three of the NSL.For a side that has played at the top level before, the stakes this season have never been higher and Mwavali, even though admitting disappointment from the draw to Black Stars, reveals that not dropping all points when on the road still bodes well for the side. ‘’Of course, the aim is to pick every possible point we can find. Whether we are playing at home or away we always go for the full set. Every team wants to go up so obviously we have to approach the away matches more calculatingly so as not to leave empty-handed, but the aim always remains three points,’’ he adds. We used borrowed boots in our last weekend’s match, Manoah opens up on financial struggles at VihigaCoach Manoah, who has a long history with the Vihiga-based side, was brought in midway through last season to salvage anything he could from what looked like a sinking ship and the former Kakamega Homeboyz coach began an overhaul of the playing unit. New and younger faces were brought in and delivered they did- ensuring United’s safety from relegation.Leading up to the start of the new campaign, a few seasoned former faces also made their way home and have been responsible for the rejuvenated start.##NAJAVA_MECA_8405927##Mwavali, the former midfielder turned centre-back, welcomes this boost in unit strength and sees competition within the squad rising. ‘’The club management has been with us since the season began and even during the pre-season and while this may look routine, for us it means a lot considering how last season turned out. There is a lot of support from our patron Kahi Indimuli and this has translated into very good results. The challenge for us is to now keep the focus and should the mid-season find us in a favourable position, there is no reason we cannot fight for promotion where we belong,’’ he continues. NSL: Fortune Sacco claim Majirani Derby bragging rightsNext up on the roster of the side which hosts its home matches at the Mumias Sports Complex is a tie against newcomers MOFA FC at home.The visiting Homabay side will be reeling from a 2-1 home loss at the hands of Muhoroni Youth FC in their last outing.United on the other hand stay tied at the top of the log with Dimba Patriots, both with seven points from three contests so far.AP’s Bomet who are also undefeated thus far, sit third with seven points too but with an inferior goal difference. Discover twenty NSL teams ahead of the new campaign
