The United States-based defender, who currently plays for Cleveland City Stars, says this has been made possible by the fact that the United States Second Division (USL-2) takes a lengthy break after its curtains come down this weekend.
“I have agreed terms for a loan deal and I will be coming to South Africa around August 27, before the league starts, to join up with my Santos team-mates.
“The US league is taking a lengthy break and coming back to Santos will enable me to stay match fit,” says the veteran former Kenyan international.
It will be his 12th season in the PSL.
The former Harambee Stars’ skipper, who has over 300 appearances and 40 goals for the Cape Town-based club, joined Cleveland from Santos, in the process realising a long-held dream of playing overseas.
He has been in top form in the club’s push for the USL-2 championship while picking up a number of Man-of-the-Match awards and recently weighing in with a solitary goal.
Otieno is confident of the team’s chances in this weekend’s playoff finals against the Charlotte Eagles.
“The team is in superb form at the moment. If we maintain our current standards, we can go all the way and win the playoffs. Everyone is up to the challenge and all the guys are looking forward to the game,” he says.
Before his move to the United States, the centre-back joined Santos from Kenya Breweries and has had a remarkable career that saw him win the league title, Bob Save Super Bowl, BP Top Eight and Absa Cup. He capped his consistency over the years by winning the PSL Chairman’s Award at the end of last season.
Meanwhile, to strengthen the Santos goalkeeping department, the club has appointed former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper-coach Farouk Abrahams as their keeper coach.
The club’s former goalkeeper-coach Andre Bronkhorst has joined Bloemfontein Celtic.
Abrahams has a goalkeeping academy and his appointment brings a wealth of knowledge to Santos.