Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Football stars to watch in KPL season
Updated 13 hr(s) 25 min(s) ago
John Baraza (Sofapaka)
Baraza has won almost everything there is to win in the league, but he remains thirsty for success. Two years ago he was named the player of the season apart from emerging the top scorer. He repeated the same feat last season and also won various other awards, including being named KPL fair play runner-up award, as well as being shortlisted for the best player of the year award.
His goals will be key to helping his club win the title. Barazas key to success seems to be his discipline on and off the pitch something that has ensured he remains on the top of his game against much younger players.
With his national team career almost on its last legs, Baraza should has even greater motivation to excel at club level and his sense of self-belief is sure to propel him to greater heights.
Baraza finally scored last weekend against Ulinzi in the DSTV/Super Cup match after a goal drought lasting almost five matches. This has boasted his moral ahead of the seasons kick-off.
　
Francis Ochieng (Ulinzi)
The Ulinzi goalkeeper is enjoying one of his best forms after ditching the strikers boots for the goal. Last year he was named goalkeeper of the year, which was his first ever major award on the local scene and it came after a successful season with his club, which won the Kenyan PremierLeague
title.
Despite being voted goalkeeper of the year last season we are yet to see the best of the towering Ochieng who will be pushed by an extra drive to help his team retain the title they won last year.
Despite a poor start to the season with Ulinzi in which they lost 4-0 to Zamalek in the CAF champions league first round match and a 1-0 loss to Sofapaka in the DSTV/SuperSport charity match, a better performance is expected from him.
Apart from his sharp instincts in goal, Ochieng also enjoys a good cover at the back having some of the most experienced defenders in the league.
He had a good outing with the national team Harambee Stars last month during the Nile Basin tournament perhaps an indicator of what he has in store this season.
Paul Were (Tusker)
He did not enjoy regular playing time last season, but scored in almost all the matches he was fielded.
He proved an instant success for Tusker even as a second half substitute and despite reports that he was moving to AFC Leopards, the brewers did everything to keep him.
This season may as well bring out the best in Were who is one of the youngest players in the league. He has pace and speed which should make him a nightmare to most defenders. The fact that he will want to prove himself is another factor that should raise his performance.
He has certainly done enough to convince coach Sammy Omollo of a regular start this season. His expected good performance may finally translate into a move abroad. This has been on the cards for a while. He may also find himself a regular place in the national team Harambee Stars.
To achieve this, however, Were will need to be focused and avoid off-the pitch theatrics that do not help his performance on the pitch.
Ezekiel Odera (Gor)
Odera has already been an instant hit at Gor with the KOgalo faithful nicknaming him Alcatel.
The former KCB striker has so far scored twice for Gor in several build-up matches including against Ghanas national team perhaps an indicator of what to expect from him this season.
The new revelation at Gor Mahia will be under extreme pressure to fit in the shoes of George Blackberry Odhiambo whom he is constantly being compared to. Odhiambo helped Gor finish runners-up last season before being sold off to Randers FC of Denmark and Odera will be under pressure to equal or even surpass the man he replaced.
But Odera has the experience having featured for KCB last season and emerged one of the top scorers in the league. Rather than make him crumble, the pressure of playing for Gor should bring out his true ability as the club goes for the top title.
Odera will also want to quickly prove that he his own man and silence the comparison with Blackbery. This he can only do with a great performance on the pitch.
Martin Musalia (Tusker)
After several seasons under the shadow of veteran goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng, Musalia finally asserted his authority as the best goalkeeper at United last season.
His performance was so impressive that Ochieng never had a reason to wear the number one jersey forcing him to relocate to Tusker at the end of last season.
Musalias performance earned his several call-ups to the national team Harambee Stars and he looks set to continue from where he left from this season.
With United rebuilding after two poor seasons Musalias performance in goal will be critical and he is expected to rise up to the new demands at the club.
He is one of those who opted to stick with United after a good number of his colleagues opted for greener pastures and this leaves him as one of the senior players.
Updated 13 hr(s) 25 min(s) ago
John Baraza (Sofapaka)
Baraza has won almost everything there is to win in the league, but he remains thirsty for success. Two years ago he was named the player of the season apart from emerging the top scorer. He repeated the same feat last season and also won various other awards, including being named KPL fair play runner-up award, as well as being shortlisted for the best player of the year award.
His goals will be key to helping his club win the title. Barazas key to success seems to be his discipline on and off the pitch something that has ensured he remains on the top of his game against much younger players.
With his national team career almost on its last legs, Baraza should has even greater motivation to excel at club level and his sense of self-belief is sure to propel him to greater heights.
Baraza finally scored last weekend against Ulinzi in the DSTV/Super Cup match after a goal drought lasting almost five matches. This has boasted his moral ahead of the seasons kick-off.
　
Francis Ochieng (Ulinzi)
The Ulinzi goalkeeper is enjoying one of his best forms after ditching the strikers boots for the goal. Last year he was named goalkeeper of the year, which was his first ever major award on the local scene and it came after a successful season with his club, which won the Kenyan PremierLeague
title.Despite being voted goalkeeper of the year last season we are yet to see the best of the towering Ochieng who will be pushed by an extra drive to help his team retain the title they won last year.
Despite a poor start to the season with Ulinzi in which they lost 4-0 to Zamalek in the CAF champions league first round match and a 1-0 loss to Sofapaka in the DSTV/SuperSport charity match, a better performance is expected from him.
Apart from his sharp instincts in goal, Ochieng also enjoys a good cover at the back having some of the most experienced defenders in the league.
He had a good outing with the national team Harambee Stars last month during the Nile Basin tournament perhaps an indicator of what he has in store this season.
Paul Were (Tusker)
He did not enjoy regular playing time last season, but scored in almost all the matches he was fielded.
He proved an instant success for Tusker even as a second half substitute and despite reports that he was moving to AFC Leopards, the brewers did everything to keep him.
This season may as well bring out the best in Were who is one of the youngest players in the league. He has pace and speed which should make him a nightmare to most defenders. The fact that he will want to prove himself is another factor that should raise his performance.
He has certainly done enough to convince coach Sammy Omollo of a regular start this season. His expected good performance may finally translate into a move abroad. This has been on the cards for a while. He may also find himself a regular place in the national team Harambee Stars.
To achieve this, however, Were will need to be focused and avoid off-the pitch theatrics that do not help his performance on the pitch.
Ezekiel Odera (Gor)
Odera has already been an instant hit at Gor with the KOgalo faithful nicknaming him Alcatel.
The former KCB striker has so far scored twice for Gor in several build-up matches including against Ghanas national team perhaps an indicator of what to expect from him this season.
The new revelation at Gor Mahia will be under extreme pressure to fit in the shoes of George Blackberry Odhiambo whom he is constantly being compared to. Odhiambo helped Gor finish runners-up last season before being sold off to Randers FC of Denmark and Odera will be under pressure to equal or even surpass the man he replaced.
But Odera has the experience having featured for KCB last season and emerged one of the top scorers in the league. Rather than make him crumble, the pressure of playing for Gor should bring out his true ability as the club goes for the top title.
Odera will also want to quickly prove that he his own man and silence the comparison with Blackbery. This he can only do with a great performance on the pitch.
Martin Musalia (Tusker)
After several seasons under the shadow of veteran goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng, Musalia finally asserted his authority as the best goalkeeper at United last season.
His performance was so impressive that Ochieng never had a reason to wear the number one jersey forcing him to relocate to Tusker at the end of last season.
Musalias performance earned his several call-ups to the national team Harambee Stars and he looks set to continue from where he left from this season.
With United rebuilding after two poor seasons Musalias performance in goal will be critical and he is expected to rise up to the new demands at the club.
He is one of those who opted to stick with United after a good number of his colleagues opted for greener pastures and this leaves him as one of the senior players.
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