Sserunkuma leaves Tanzanian giants Simba
Ugandan forward Dan Sserunkuma has been released by Simba SC paving way for a possible return to the Kenyan Premier League next month.
These news is certain to be received with utter surprise from the 25 year old striker’s ardent supporters in Kenya, as it comes six months after he left Gor Mahia for the Tanzanian giants.
“We have reached a mutual agreement with Simba to release Sserunkuma. A player as good as him cannot be sitting on the bench in every game,” Sserunkuma’s agent Ken Joseph told Nairobi News on phone from London.
Nairobi News understands the dreadlocked forward has been unsettled by a lack of playing time at the Msimbazi street based club in Dar es Salaam since joining the team.
It is also believed that the club has gone back on a couple of promises it made to the player, including granting him accommodation and a car. This in turn led to the player, who is married to a Kenyan, making trips back to Nairobi on a monthly basis.
With this move, Simba has made an instant loss of Sh 2.5 million, an amount the club forked out to acquire the services of the player last December.
Sserunkuma who started out in the Kenyan Premier League at Nairobi City Stars, made a name for himself at Gor Mahia under current Leopards coach Zdravko Logarusic, scoring tens of goals to help K’Ogalo win both the league and domestic cup titles.
COMMENCE TALKS
Meanwhile, Sserunkuma’s sudden availability on a free transfer is certain to attract the attention of several clubs in East Africa, Eastern Europe and the Scandinavia.
On learning the news, AFC Leopards organizing Secretary Timothy Lilumbi confirmed that the club will move with speed to commence talks with the player’s representatives.
“Nobody in Kenya doubts the player’s quality,” Lilumbi said in an interview with Nairobi News. “We are looking for some money to bolster our squad in the next couple of weeks, I am asking him (Sserunkuma) to call me or any club official” he added.
Sudan giants El Merreikh, which has since qualified for the group stages of the Africa Champions League, TP Mazembe (DR Congo), AS Khartoum (Sudan) has also been linked with a move for the all-round forward in the last year.
A return to Gor Mahia is certain to be mooted as well, although a couple of factors, included the potent new look Gor strike partnership of Meddie Kagere and Micheal Olunga, alongside the club financial woes could hamper a move.
Sserunkuma joins a swelling list of Kenyan based footballers who have failed to find their feet in Tanzania’s Vodacom League, a competition that is renowned for a much better pay cheque. Others are Humphrey Mieno, Salim Kinje, Donald Mosoti and Joakins Atudo.