Mathare United attacking midfielder Daniel Otieno has allayed fears that the exit of a host of senior player will guide the club to last season’s route that nearly took them to the National Super League.The 2008 league champions escaped relegation by a whisker after bagging back to back wins when it mattered most and in the final stages of the season.Part of Mathare’s struggles can be traced to the loss of their valued assets to deep pocketed opponents, a situation that has left the slum boys with a tough task of building a new team. The team also parted ways with their shirt sponsors mid-season.💛💛@MathareUtd pic.twitter.com/KUaz1aNF2Z— Daniel Otieno Okoth (@DanielOtieno_9) October 1, 2021 Having watched several senior players opt for better packages offered elsewhere, Mathare who handed former Kenyan international Ezekiel Akwana the mantle after Frank Ouna left, embarked on a rebuilding process to fill the voids left.The club parted ways with Tyson Otieno, David Okello, David Ochieng and James Kinyanjui who were instrumental to last season’s survival have already left the club.Otieno who was arguably their best player last season said the new arsenals acquired from the trials are adapting to the Mathare culture and are hungry enough to drive the club back to its days of glory.“We will not struggle again despite losing key players. The coach signed some exciting young and talented players who have shown potential. We are guiding them in training and I will not be surprised if we start giving teams a run for their money,” said the former Sony Sugar man.Despite Mathare suffering a 3-0 defeat in their opener away to Bandari, Otieno predicts a top ten finish this season.My goal against Nairobi city stars pic.twitter.com/KGMHnwWaru— Daniel Otieno Okoth (@DanielOtieno_9) August 19, 2021 The left-footed player who was under the radar of a handful of top flight teams said that the players had resolved to give a good account of themselves after being on the receiving end of criticism last season.
