Mathare United coach David Ouma says healthy competition for places will be central to his plans as the club prepares for the new SportPesa Premier League season.
Back in the Kenyan top flight after several years in the Tanzania Premier League, Ouma has assembled a squad combining experienced players with emerging talent as he seeks to build a team capable of handling the demands of a long campaign.
“Of course, I’m a coach who believes in giving every player an opportunity,” Ouma said. The tactician said several players at Mathare United were still young when he left Kenya three years ago but have since gained valuable top-flight experience, while the club has also added several promising youngsters.
“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.
Ouma said he was determined not to overlook players already at the club before assessing what they could offer under his methods. “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 a change in coaching methods can also influence a player’s performance, making it important to assess every member of the squad on merit. “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.
However, he stressed that neither age nor experience would guarantee a starting place, with technical ability, potential and competitiveness set to determine his selections. “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 wants to preserve Mathare United’s longstanding identity as a club built around community and youth development.
“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.
The coach believes the current squad has the right blend of experience and youth to reflect that tradition while remaining competitive. “We have experienced players, we have young players, and I believe we have a good mix and blend within the team,” he said.
With the league season delayed, Ouma is also preparing for a potentially congested fixture schedule once the campaign begins, particularly when international commitments are factored in.
He said squad depth was therefore a key consideration in his recruitment and preparations, with Mathare United potentially required 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.
