Kenyan Premier League: Bandari asked to put players on long term contracts

AfricaPress-Kenya: Bandari football club has been urged to consider long term contracts for its players.

“Bandari need to choose those players who are good and young for long term contracts,” said Daniel Mcharo, a die hard supporter of the club

Mcharo noted with concern that Bandari did not gain monetary after some of its best players left the club for greener pastures after the expiry of their contracts.

Mcharo singled out the club’s former captain Felly Mulumba whose contract expired while on top form and was poached by Zimbabwe’s top side Platinum FC on free transfer.

“Mohammed Katana joined a Belarus side last month on free transfer and this issue of short term contracts is hitting Bandari hard,” said Mcharo.

However, Bandari said yesterday that they engage aged players on short term contracts for less than two years with the youthful players engaged for five years contracts.

Mcharo said Bandari had engaged its first choice goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo on a long-term contract and the dockers benefitted for selling him for Sh 2 million to Tanzania’s Yanga, adding that the club used Sh 400,000 to sign Burundian custodian Justin Ndikumana who has perfectly fitted into the team.

Mcharo said players on long term contracts, feel more needed and secure as they are guaranteed money with big salaries, which is what players and their agents covet.

He added that players on long term contracts are beneficial to the team as the club owns them and can restructure the deal if the club intends to keep or trade them. “Players commit themselves fully to the team as they are guaranteed money in the event of injury or under performance,” he added.

“The problem of short term contracts are pegged on performance,” said Mcharo.

He said Bandari need to rethink on its players’ contracts stand and work on its contracts documents to ensure all the players are on long term contracts to protect the club from losing good players on free transfers.

“Bandari need to protect its good players such as Mohammed Siraj, Collins Agade, Hassan Abdalla ams Yema Mwana just to name a few by engaging them in long term contracts,” said Mcharo.