Mara Sugar midfielder Brian Ochieng has explained why the club has been struggling in the league despite a strong start in their first matches to their debut season.
After their 1-1 draw against Sofapaka on Saturday, Mara Sugar remained in 11th place on the table with 27 points, having secured seven wins, six draws, and suffered 10 losses in their 23 matches.
Since the second leg began, the Millers have played seven matches, but the results have been disappointing. They have won two, drawn twice, and lost three of the games.
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Ochieng lamented that the team’s recent performances can be attributed to the entry of new players, who are still working on building chemistry with each other, which has impacted their gameplay.
“If you look at the second leg, we have been trying to reinforce the squad with new players. When compared to the first leg, we were a bit more one thing,” he explained after the Sofapaka match.
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He further clarified that this might not be the sole reason for the dip in form, noting that as the season progresses, matches tend to become more challenging.
“I cannot say that is the only issue. As we approach the end of the season, the games get tougher, and the only option for us is to keep working hard and putting in more effort because there are no easy teams in the league right now,” he added.
Regarding the large number of players making their debut in the top tier, Ochieng acknowledged that this has been a challenge for many of them, and while they are trying to adapt, time is running out.
“It’s tough because most of our players have not played in the Premier League before. They are trying to catch up, but time is against us. We just have to give our best and do whatever we can,” he stated.
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With 11 matches remaining, coach Benedict Wanjala’s side has bolstered their squad with fresh talent, and they will be looking to improve their chances of staying in the top flight for another season.
Their next fixture will be against AFC Leopards in the FKF Cup this weekend.