Nairobi — Chemelil Sugar are all fired-up for the Kenya Premier League this season. In the club's 40 years of existence, the team has not known glory and the coach, Zedekiah Otieno, has vowed to take on the big guns head on this time round.

Chemelil Sugar players in a recent team photo. The club has recruited 13 new players this season to help them challenge for the KPL Premier League crown. Last weekend, they launched their title campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over newcomers Western Stima. Photo/ CORRESPONDENT

Chemelil, which was founded in 1968 as a social welfare club for Chemelil Sugar company employees, has grown in leaps and bounds to a strong Premier League team.

The title, however, has always eluded them. The closest the club came to winning the league was in 2001 when they finished second.

Last weekend, they launched their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Western Stima. Coach Otieno has vowed to win more matches this season in their quest for league glory. Last season, Chemelil finished seventh. They have recruited heavily this year and Otieno believes he now has the talent to challenge for the title. The team has 13 new players, most of them youngsters, thirsty and champing at the bit for glory.

But Otieno is up against a formidable challenge as title favourites, defending champions Tusker FC, Mathare United and neighbours Sony Sugar, have all strengthened their sides.

Wishful thinking

"It's easy to predict that Tusker or Mathare United could win the title or perhaps Sony Sugar, but do not be surprised when Chemelil beat them all to the tape," said Otieno, a former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars fullback.

"What Tusker and Mathare have in their teams, we now have. Sony won the title two years ago when they were least expected to, and that is what we are going to do this year," Otieno said.

Otieno's views could easily be dismissed as wishful thinking, especially considering that Tusker and Mathare have very strong squads this season. But Otieno is a determined man.

"We have also recruited well and my players have fit in well in my style of play. They are all fired-up and are upbeat they can make it," said Otieno. One of his new players, Evans Walekhwa, scored on his debut on Saturday against Western Stima, the sole goal of the match.

"He has been here for a just few days and I can tell you he is going to be one of the Premier League stars this season. If we are to win the league, he is going to be our main star, the same way Allan Wanga was for Tusker last season."

Sharp striker

Wanga scored 20 goals, almost half of Tusker's tally last season when they won the title. Otieno, who also coached Wanga at the national team where he is a deputy to Tusker coach Jacob "Ghost" Mulee, is drawing similarities between the two players.

"Walekhwa, just like Wanga, knows how to position himself on the box. He's a sharp striker who has a strong appetite for goals. He's a goal hunter."

Walekhwa, formerly of Sher Agencies, is one of the 13 players Otieno has recruited to do duty for the side this season.

Other new faces at Chemelil are Andrew Aroka, another recruit from Sher together with goalkeeper Samuel Odhiambo and Argwings Magisha.

There is also Charles Maina from Agro-Chemicals, Kennedy Onyach formerly of Coast Stars, national under-20 goalkeeper John Wau and Collins Ochieng, also from Agro. Others are Hussein Puzo and Robert Nyongesa from Muhoroni Youth and Walter Odede, formerly of Thika United.

Otieno has also gone for untested players in Dan Masonik and Paul Opon from St Andrews Turi.