Mathare United has completed the swoop for midfield lynchpin Brian Rio Ochieng.

 Ochieng, a product of the famed Mathare Youth Sports Academy (MYSA) joins the Slumboys side after an extended stint with Bankers that last for seven years.

The midfielder has agreed to a two-year contract at his new home according to the club.

“Mathare United is delighted to announce the mid-season signing of Brian Ochieng on a free transfer,” the club stated.

Popularly referred to as Rio by his peers, Ochieng joins after ending his tenure at KCB FC and commits to the club for the next two years,” the club revealed on its portal.

Link up

Rio’s switch marks yet another start of a familiar relationship with coach John Kamau, who tutored the versatile player in his previous two clubs.

The Kenyan national team trainer mentored Ochieng at FC Talanta eight years ago in the National Super League.

After moving to KCB a year later, Kamau, highly impressed with Ochieng’s growth, tagged the midfielder along to the Bankers fold.

Rio brings a much-needed profile as he can both star as an anchorman or as an advanced offensive position.

 His was first with FC Talanta where he featured with likes of Kenyan international and former Tusker and league MVP winner, Eric Kapaito among others.

The player was part of the FC Talanta team that caught the attention of top-flight teams, prompting outbounds moves. Kapaito left for Sharks as Ochieng joined up with KCB for his maiden of Kenya’s elite league.

He graduated on to a successful outing with KCB with bankers, helping the club to a second-place finish in the 2020-21 season, finishing just behind eventual league winner, Tusker FC.

His growing stature at the club earned him a slot among the team’s leadership group in 2023.

Fifth signing

The midfielder was named as the team’s first assistant captain along with Maurice Ojwang; with experienced custodian Gabrial Andika named the new skipper for the team.

Ochieng had renewed his contract with the club at the start of the 2023-24 season for one year, before its expiry on December 31, 2024.

He becomes Slumboys fifth signing of the midseason transfer in what has been a major squad revamp for John Kamau.