Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo has assured Vihiga United FC that he will fully support the team to ensure they clinch the National super league title and join Kenya Premier League (KPL). Ottichilo accompanied by the outgoing Governor Moses Akaranga visited the players at their training camp at Kidundu grounds today.
Ottichilo also dismissed claims that he will dump the team saying he loves sports and he will do everything possible to support sports among the youth in the County.
The Vihiga Governor said he is proud of Vihiga United and assured them that they are in good hands. He lauded them for beating Tusker FC 2-0 in the GoTv tournament at Nyayo stadium at the weekend.
On transfer of players from other parts of the country, Ottichilo said the team will only focus on the locals players from the County who will be recruited from local teams.
He said players will be recruited from the ward, sub-county and county tournament which will be organized annually.
He said Vihiga United will only get players from outside the region based on the merit or demand. He said the team will have to give convincing reasons why they should hire a player from outside the County.
“We want to promote our youth by recruiting them from the local teams in the County. The players will be picked from the local teams during the tournament which will be held at ward, sub-county and County levels. The importation of foreign players will only be done on merit,” said Ottichilo.
He said assured players from outside the County and country who were hired by the team management that they will still be retained in the team.
Ottichilo said he will allocate more funds to the sports department which will be used to construct a stadium in Vihiga which meets FIFA standards. He also said they’ve set aside money to build a talent development centre for youths to develop their talents. He said “My leadership will set aside funds which will be used to put up a stadium which meets the FIFA international standards, We shall also put up mini-stadiums in all five sub-counties of Hamisi, Emuhaya, Luanda, Vihiga and Sabatia to ensure our youths play in good fields. We shall also put up talent development centre for the youth.”