Troubled Leopards appoint Filippini as head coach

AFC Leopards have hired Italian Emanuele Filippini as the new head coach of the club.

Filippini is expected in Nairobi on Friday and will take over from James Nandwa.

Club vice chairman Patrick Ngaira said the Italian will start work next week.

“We have already finalised the deal and our technical bench is aware of the new development,” he said.

Ngaira said his executive is making arrangement for the 41-year-old Italian to be in Nakuru tomorrow to watch Ingwe take on Bandari in their Top 8 quarter-final tie at Afraha Stadium.

NANDWA DEMOTED

The former Italian international midfielder, who spent most of his career with Serie A side Brescia, will be assisted by Nandwa while Mickey Weche will take up a new role as the team’s Technical Director.

Filippini had an amazing career in Serie A with Brescia featuring in 175 games and scoring six goals over the course of eight seasons.

The former Italian star emerged through his hometown Brescia Calcio’s youth system and stayed there for eight professional seasons. He initially started with amateur side Ospitaletto.

Filippini made his Serie A debut on August 31, 1997, in a 1-2 away defeat to Inter Milan. He retired at the age of 36.

In late January 2010, he was appointed as assistant coach of the Giovanissimi Nazionali youth team.

His appointment will come as a surprise to many just as it was expected by others. Leopards’ management have repeatedly said that they have faith in Nandwa and will stick by him this season.

A person no less than the club chairman, Allan Kasavuli had given assurances on retaining Nandwa even as the team registered mixed results in the league.

A section of the passionate Leopards following had meanwhile openly displayed their displeasure with the coach and demanded he be replaced by a worthy foreign coach.