Gideon Starlets head coach Silas Wesechere has identified finances as the biggest obstacle standing between the Homa Bay-based side and a successful second season in the FKF Women Premier League.The club began its 2026/27 campaign on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat to title favorites Ulinzi Starlets at the Raila Odinga Stadium.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968594##However, the gaffer believes their biggest battle this season could come away from the pitch.Gideon Starlets are still without a sponsor and rely heavily on club director Bishop Gideon Opiyo to finance their operations.This leaves the coach concerned about how they will meet the demands of a full league campaign.Wesechere says the financial struggles also affected the team during their maiden season, when they finished ninth with 14 points after only securing their top-flight status on the final day, by a single point.“Financially, it is still a crisis, not only for Gideon’s but for almost all teams. We are struggling financially, honestly. We don’t have any sponsor. The director is the only financier here, and even he is not that rich, but he is really trying,” he told Mozzart Sport.Despite the difficulties, the coach insists the club has remained committed to its players and managed to honor its contractual obligations.“From the whole of last season, there is no player who left here such that the club has a debt or owes money. They are all sorted,” he added.How Kenya will profit from billions invested in hosting 2029 World Athletics ChampionshipsOne improvement that could ease some of the club’s logistical burden this season is the return of a team bus.The club has repaired a used bus, which Wesechere says will now be available for away matches, although the team still has to meet the cost of fuel and other operational expenses.“Logistically, yes, this season at least we have a bus. We repaired one, so we just need fuel, and then we are good to go. Other logistics need a lot of money, but we are just going to try,” revealed the gaffer.On the pitch, the promotion-earning coach is targeting a campaign far removed from last season's relegation battle.Motsepe rules out Plan B as East Africa races to ready for AFCON 2027The CAF C-licensed coach says the technical bench used the off-season to identify weaknesses in the squad and has made changes in an attempt to compete higher up the table.Gideon Starlets released 12 players at the end of last season but retained 12 members of the squad and brought in 11 new players, taking the squad to 23.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968490##Some players left in search of other opportunities, while others returned to school.“Immediately when we ended the season, we went to the drawing board and checked the areas where we had issues and tried to correct them.We did some signings that we believe are going to help us, and right now I can say the team is well prepared for the season ahead.We gauged ourselves through friendlies and tournaments during pre-season and saw that the players are ready physically, mentally, and tactically,” explained the manager.Kenya's U20 Africa Cup of Nations hopes extinguished after winless qualifier campaignAmong the new arrivals are midfielders Yuridaha Bosire from Shabana Starlets, Victoria Juma from Huruma Queens, and Susan Aluoch Rakama from Inungo Starlets.The club has also added forward/right-winger Belinda Akuku from Mombasa-based Ocean D and offensive player Janet Nyongesa from Inungo Starlets, alongside other reinforcements.