Police FC head coach Nicholas Muyoti/HANDOUT Kenya Police head coach Nicholas Muyoti has confirmed that Congolese defender Ndecket Bowamba Jacques Geordy is the club’s only injury concern ahead of the Super 8 pre-season tournament.
The 22-year-old centre-back joined the Law Enforcers from AS Otoho during the recent transfer window and is currently being assessed by the club’s medical team as he works towards full fitness. “We have only one player who is carrying an injury at the moment, and that is Geordy,” Muyoti said.
The coach is hopeful the defender will return soon but does not want to risk aggravating the injury as Police prepare for a demanding series of matches.
“Our medical team is monitoring him, and we will continue to assess him before making a decision on when he can return to full training,” he said.
The Super 8 has been organised to help leading clubs maintain match fitness following the postponement of the opening domestic league fixtures. The tournament will also allow coaches to assess their squads in competitive action as they await the FKF Premier League to kick off.
Eight teams will participate, divided into two groups of four. Each club is guaranteed at least three group-stage matches, with the top two sides in each group advancing to the semi-finals.
The participating teams are Kenya Police, AFC Leopards, Ulinzi Stars, Posta Rangers, Nairobi United, 3K FC, BB Bread FC and Equity Bank FC. “The rest of the squad is fit and available, which gives us a good base as we go into the tournament,” Muyoti said.
Police head into the competition with a considerably reshaped squad following an active transfer window. The club signed 11 players and released 18, leaving Muyoti to mould a new-look side in a relatively short period.
The changes have created tough competition for places, with the coach expected to use the tournament to assess his options ahead of the league campaign.
“We have made several changes to the squad, but the objective is to create a competitive team and allow every player to fight for his place,” Muyoti said.
Police will face a strong field that includes AFC Leopards, Ulinzi Stars and Posta Rangers. Nairobi United, 3K FC, BB Bread FC and Equity Bank FC will also be looking to progress from their respective groups. Muyoti sees the competition as an opportunity to measure the team’s development rather than chase results.
“These are the kinds of games we need because they allow us to see where we are as a team and where we still need to improve,” he said.
The matches will also give Police’s recruits valuable competitive exposure as they seek to understand the coach’s tactical demands and establish partnerships with their teammates. “We want the new players to understand our system quickly, and playing competitive matches is one of the best ways of achieving that,” Muyoti said.
The postponement of league matches has disrupted the start of the domestic season, making the Super 8 important for clubs seeking to preserve their match rhythm.
Police will, therefore, use the competition to sharpen their tactical organisation, build match fitness and assess players while managing workloads.
“Our focus is to keep everyone fit, improve the team and make sure we are ready when the important matches come,” Muyoti said.
Geordy’s recovery remains the main fitness issue for the technical bench, but Muyoti is encouraged by the condition of the rest of the squad.
“We are taking every precaution with Geordy, but overall we are happy with the fitness of the group and the progress we are making,” Muyoti said.
Police will now target one of the two qualification places from their group as they seek to use the Super 8 as competitive preparation for the new FKF Premier League campaign.
