Migori Youth are targeting a direct ticket to the FKF Premier League in the 2023/24 season.

Coach Kevin Oluoch said: “Our target is to finish in the top two positions. We want to avoid the relegation and promotion playoff because it’s challenging.”

Migori Youth lost 3-0 on aggregate against Wazito in last season’s promotion and relegation playoff.

On Monday, Oluoch said: “We want to avoid the play-off route at all costs. I believe this is our season.”

The club lost goalkeeper Victor Kamungo to FKF Premier League side Shabana and captain Wycliffe Omondi. Coach Oluoch admitted that the loss of the two players was a huge blow to the team.

“The two players played a key role in our campaign last season but since they got better offers in top tier league teams, we released them,” noted Oluoch.

He said they have beefed up the team by signing eight players. Migori Youth will open their campaign on Saturday against relegated Mathare United at Migori Stadium.

The tactician said high-profile pre-season friendly matches have helped shape the team ahead of the NSL kick off this weekend.

On Saturday, Migori Youth lost 2-0 against Ulinzi Stars at Ulinzi Sports Complex while on Sunday, they held moneybags Kenya Police to a 1-1 draw at Police Sacco Stadium.

Clinton Okoth scored for Migori Youth while Clinton Kianga pulled the team level. On August 30, Migori Youth lost 2-0 against Tanzanian side,  Biashara United.

“We have had a good pre-season though it was short. We played high-profile teams to gauge ourselves and I can confirm we are ready for the 2023/24 season,” added Oluoch.

The coach, however, admitted that the upcoming season will not be easy. “The league will be tough. The newly promoted teams Rainbow, Nairobi United and Luanda Villa are very good. Mathare are also a good team but we are ready for the fight for promotion,” he added.

Twenty teams will battle it out in the FKF-NSL with two gaining automatic promotion while the third-placed team will go through a promotion playoff. The three bottom-placed sides will be relegated to the third tier.

Shabana and Murang’a Seal gained direct promotion to the Kenyan Premier League in the just-concluded season.