Mukura Victory Sport have released Kenyan midfielder Morris Odip after one month training at the club, team manager Patrick Kayiranga has confirmed.

The 23-year-old central midfielder was found lacking after the acquisition of the 17-year old Cameroonian Jacques Kimenyi and the return to top form of their dynamic midfielder Rodriguez Murengezi.

Odip was part of the Mukura contingent that finished as first runners up during the last week’s Kigali City Centenary tournament, but his departure comes as a surprise to many club fans whom he had already become a darling after just one month.

"We initially thought the player was valuable to the club but we later realized that there are several Rwandese born players who can play his role.

We have decided to let him look else where early enough,” Kayiranga said.

The Kenyan star featured for the relegated Umurabyo football club of the Eastern Province last season and did not agree to follow them to the lower division.

Mukura coach Rajab Bizimuremyi has plans to draft one of his experienced defenders to the central midfield role and the arrival of the powerful Arafat Rajab from relegated Zebra Fc, would go along way to boost the club defensively.

Bizimuremyi maintained his delight to have a big bunch of defenders including Canesius Nshimiyimana, Yahaya Jean and Jean Claude ‘Moma’ Nkurunziza to pick from.

The club also plans to sign several youngsters who have been working with Butare youth sports center junior team.

Meanwhile, club vice president in charge of development and technical affairs Gideon Nsonera has said they are contented with the quality of their new signings.

The Huye based club has signed strikers Fred Mugisha, Dady Agiti, and Murenzi Adelbert to strengthen their striking options.

Nsonera disclosed that they were forced into a massive recruitment drive following their humiliating defeats during the pre-season Lotto cup that saw the club finish last in the four-team tournament after conceding eight goals without scoring any. 

He said, "We responded in the right way and recruited good players who can match our standards. We performed fairly well during the concluded Kigali city cup and we want to challenge top clubs this season.”

 The trio will compete for places in the starting line-up this season with the likes of Janvier Bigirimana, Yumba Kayite and Elias Witandaye.

Mukura finished fourth in the national football league last season, only three points behind league champions APR and were only beaten to third spot by Atraco on goal difference.

They have already won their first two games of the new season; they started with a 2-0 home win over Etincelles before thumping new boys Military 0-4 in Kanombe on Saturday.

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