Kenyan clubs fight for Aucho

By Swalley Kenyi

FEW years ago, it was the Rwanda top flight football league clubs fighting for Ugandan players. This trend appears to head to Kenya now.

The recent fight pits Kenyan giants Tusker FC and Sofapaka SC over Ugandan midfielder Khalid Aucho with each side claiming the lanky player’s signature.

Sofapaka and Aucho himself over the weekend announced having agreed a two-year contract to secure a move away from Tusker.

But hours later, Tusker FC through their director Charles Obiny refuted the move insisting that Aucho is still with them.

“I have already signed for Sofapaka. I signed for Sofapaka because of my religion. Ever since my family realised that I play for Tusker, they have been pressuring me to look for another club that has no close ties with alcohol,” Aucho, who is a practicing Muslim said.

“And when the 2013 season, ended, I decided to heed their advice and look for another club. Sofapaka were interested in me and I decided to move there,” Aucho added about Sofapaka -a club with Christian foundation led by Congolese Elly Kalekwa.

If an agreement is reached, Aucho will join Ugandan tactician Sam Timbe and midfielder Johnson Bagoole, former KCCA FC defender Tony Ndolo and striker Mustapha Kasolo, who joined from BUL FC in Jinja last season at Sofapaka.

According to futaa.com, the midfielder, who helped Tusker FC finish fifth in the Kenyan Premier League in 2013, said that he was only waiting for his release letter.

Aucho scored one of the most important goals in the Kenyan Premier League last season as Tusker finished the league in the fifth position.

Timbe said the club was waiting for the Sofapaka management to approve a pre-season tour of Tanzania starting on Thursday this week.

Meanwhile Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Bandari FC has completed the signing of another Ugandan, former Nairobi City Stars striker Bruno Sserunkuma from City Stars.

Bandari Technical Director, Edward Oduor confirmed that move saying, “Ssserunkuma has joined us on a two year contract and we are glad he chose Bandari over the other clubs. He is a very good forward and his experience will help the club in the upcoming season,” Oduor added.