Mathare United head coach David Ouma says competition within the squad will be crucial as the club prepares for its return to the Kenyan top flight.Ouma, who spent the last three years working in Tanzania, has overseen the rebuilding of the squad, bringing together experienced campaigners and a crop of promising young players.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978907##The coach says every player will have to fight for his place, including those who were already at the club before his arrival.“Of course, I’m a coach who believes in giving every player an opportunity,” Ouma said in an interview with club media.He noted that some of the players he left behind when he departed Kenya three years ago have since developed significantly through regular top-level football.“When I left Kenya, some of these players were still very young, but now, three years later, they have gained more experience competing at the highest level. We have also recruited some very exciting young players,” he said.Harambee Stars secure friendly to make it 3 matches in 9 daysOuma says he was keen to assess the existing squad before making decisions on recruitment, having identified quality among players already at Mathare United.“From the beginning, I felt I could not simply overlook the players who were already here. I wanted to give them an opportunity because I could see their quality,” he said.He believes players can improve or struggle depending on the coaching environment and tactical demands placed on them, which is why he intends to assess everyone fairly.“Perhaps one player can perform differently under another coach because the dynamics change, but for me, the first thing is to be fair and give every player a chance,” Ouma said.McCarthy defends inclusion of suspended Gor Mahia duo in Harambee StarsDespite the mixture of youth and experience in his squad, Ouma insists selection will be based on performance rather than reputation or age.“We are competing at the highest level in the Kenya Premier League, and the reality is that we need competitive players,” he said.“If we want to be competitive, we must have players with the right potential and the right skills to ensure that the quality and talent within the team are evident.”Ouma also hopes to retain Mathare United's long-standing emphasis on developing young footballers and maintaining a strong connection with the community.“Mathare United is a club with a strong connection to the community. Its roots come from young boys and girls who have always dreamed of becoming top footballers,” he said.President Ruto watches as Madina Okot leads Dream to fourth playoff seedThe coach believes the combination of established players and youngsters gives the club a balanced squad capable of competing while maintaining its traditional identity.“We have experienced players, we have young players, and I believe we have a good mix and blend within the team,” he said.The delay to the start of the league has also given Ouma more time to prepare for what could be a demanding campaign, particularly with international fixtures likely to affect squad availability.He says squad depth was one of the key considerations when putting together his team, with Mathare United potentially having to play matches every three days.“That was something very close to my thoughts when I was building this team. I wanted to put together a squad that has enough quality, depth and balance to remain competitive even when the schedule becomes demanding,” Ouma said.Dallas Mavericks President Masai Ujiri to construct multimillion indoor arena in Kenya
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