Ulinzi Stars will fight for the Kenya Premier League title without the services of defender Brian Birgen, who will be out on duty.
Birgen will miss the entire second leg of the season, as he is set to go for military progression course, which starts in June.
This means he will be off the roster, and will not be able to participate for the next five months.
“It is in our program to help players grow also in their jobs and in that line Brian will be away for the next five months, starting June. To me as the coach, and to the team, this is a big blow, but again I am happy for him because he will grow in his career,” coach Dunstan Nyaudo told the club’s official website.
The team will, however, welcome back other players, who have finished their training courses.
The players include Geoffrey Kokoyo, Omar Boraafya, Mark Bikokwa, Eugene Ochieng and Vincent Masinde.
Birgen has been crucial in the first leg run, in which the team has kept eight clean sheets in 15 matches.“We will play the Sofapaka game for him, and we hope to give him a good sendoff as he heads out to start his course.”