Nationals Super League outfit Vihiga Bullets and FKF Division One side Omax FC will change their names for the second phase of their respective leagues following a change of ownership at the start of the season.The duo, thrown into financial turbulence, had to seek new owners to ensure their continuity, which in turn came with the option of switching names.Bullets, under former Vihiga County Governor Moses Akaranga, after two unbearable seasons that had the club relegated to the second tier, was sold to chain markets powered and FKF Division Two Eastern Zone side Samwest Black BootsSamwest Blackboots FC acquires Vihiga Bullets in meager dealSamwest took part in the Eastern Zone promotion deciders but lost to Kirinyaga Stars, who went on to grace the third tier after seeing apart SHOFCO FC in the regional promotion playoffs.After missing out on the Kibera Soccer slot in Division One, the ambitious club set hands on cash-trapped Bullets, parting ways with a whopping Ksh 2.5 million for the second-division spot.The club has since relocated to Kikuyu and plays its home matches at the Ruaraka Grounds and Ngong Grounds in Nairobi from the original base in Kidundu in Mbale and Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.Furthermore, the team caught engagements with several players in a bid to create room for arsenals who were with the Black Boots in the fourth tier. The players are expected to link up with the team once the transfer window opens next month.Omax to Congo BoysA ray of hope has shone on the Congo Boys loyalists after the FKF Coast Regional League outfit and the former Football Kenya Federation Premier League side merged with Omax to signal their return to the third tier and offer an escape route to the top-flight stage after years in the cold.Congo was relegated to the fourth tier in 2021 from the third division, but the Omax buyout enhances the club’s chances of climbing up the football ladder, with a name change set to be effected once the player registration window is opened.Cash trapped Omax acquired by Congo BoysAffirming the development Congo chairperson Alamin Ahmed Abdallah said during the takeover in October that they will take over all of Omax’s operations, including paying players allowances and offering transport, among other functions.”Running a football team in Kenya has been very difficult. We had a meeting with Omax FC officials and saw the merger as the only feasible thing that would stop them from going under,” offered the club boss.”It was a big challenge for Omax FC since Division I expenses are very high. We were worried Mombasa would lose the opportunity to have representation in the division. That’s why we decided to take them in as a plan for the future,” he added.Upon approval, the two deals will add to the long list of clubs that have recently bought slots in the upper leagues and changed the names to suit their operations.##NAJAVA_MECA_7764932##Among the clubs to merge and swap names in recent times are Wazito FC to Muhoroni Youth, Nairobi Stima’s merger with Darajani Gogo, Nairobi United and EPZ Balaji merger, and Mwatate United to Dimba Patriots.Other teams to rebrand this term include Mulembe United from Vihiga United, Sunderland Naivasha from Keroche, Compel SC from Nyota FC and Malindi United from Malindi Progressive
