Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Nairobi City Stars have explained why their Japanese star signing Yuto Kusaba will not be available for the first half of the 2023/24 season.

The forward signed a one-year deal with Simba wa Nairobi from FC Zenshin but will wait longer for his debut, which will possibly come after the first round of the new campaign.

City Stars’ chief executive officer, Patrick Korir, said Kusaba’s unavailability has been occasioned by a late completion of the transfer business.

Kusaba’s situation explained

“He (Kusaba) was registered with the Japanese Football Association, and thus the transfer had to be done through the Transfer Matching System and within the given timeline.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to complete it on time, and therefore, he will have to wait up to the mid-season window,” Korir is quoted as saying by a local publication.

City Stars signings

Kusaba is among the nine new players signed by City Stars during the transfer window. Others are Julius Ombacho from Luanda Villa and Edwin Mukolwe from Bidco United, who are both goalkeepers.

Defender Wycliffe Omondi and defensive midfielder Brian Omondi Mzee, from National Super League sides Migori Youth and Kibera Black Stars, respectively, are also new players at the Nairobi club.

Sosthenes Idah, a former Thika United defender, and Robinson Asenwa from Vapor Sports, Gilbert Abal Busia Sugar FC, who are wingers, have been brought on board to strengthen the Premier League club. Brian Mose Nyambane is the other new striker.

Meanwhile, head coach Nicholas Muyoti is confident the City Stars will have a more positive campaign compared to their performance last term.

“We have carefully recruited this season, and onboard we have a pool of promising and very exciting players.

“They have had a good preseason, and the new players are blending in very well with the rest of the team, and we are confident that we will have a vibrant season,” Muyoti told the club’s website.

Squad, new jersey numbers:

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe (Bidco United), 13. Elvis Ochoro, 23. Julius Ombacho (Luanda Villa),

Defenders: 4. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 30. Rowland Makati, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 32. Sosthenes Idah (Polisi Tanzania), 15. Wycliffe Omondi (Migori Youth),

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 5. Newton Ochieng, 6. Rooney Kola, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 18. Clifford Ouma, 19. Vincent Owino, 25. Brian Omondi Mzee (Kibera Black Stars), 31. Abuyeka Kubasu,

Forwards: 3. Robinson Asenwa (Vapor Sports), 7. Pius Omachi, 9. Mohammed Bajaber, 10. Dennis Oalo, 17. Brian Mose (Total Spurs-Narok), 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 21. Yuto Kusaba (FC Zenshin-Embu), 22. Samuel Kapen, and 27. Gilbert Abala (Busia Sugar FC).