Coaching silly season once again
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) have fired head coach Juma Abdallah and his deputy Jeremy Owuor after a string of poor results so far in the Tusker Premier League campaign.
This ends weeks of speculation regarding Abdalla’s stay as the club is yet to win a single match in their nine outings under his watch.
The weekend’s 2 -1 loss to Bandari at the City Stadium sealed Abdallah’s fate. Speaking to Daily Nation Sport on Monday, Juma said he had taken the club’s decision well.
“It is true I am no longer with the club. I was asked to step aside alongside my deputy (Jeremy Owuor) due to poor performance. It is a painful decision but I have to accept an move on,” Abdallah said.
Goalkeeping trainer Dan Oluoch and team captain Michael Oyando take over on interim basis pending the appointment of another coach.
KCB have recorded three draws and six losses so far, results that have confined them to the bottom of the league.
But a defender at the club who did not wish to be named, citing fear of victimisation, alleged friction in the technical bench was the source of their problems.
“Things are not working right. There is no harmony. Open sabotage made the coach’s work very difficult,” he said.
Abdallah, who still had one year left on his contract, joined KCB in January 2013 and guided them to a fourth finish, their best ever in the Premier League.
His performance last season saw him bag the Premier League coach of the year award during the Footballer of the Year Awards.
His player, Brian Osumba, was voted the best midfielder while striker Jacob Keli, who has since joined AFC Leopards, bagged a double -- claiming the golden boot and best player awards. Osumba has since joined league leaders Tusker.
Abdallah joins James Nandwa (AFC Leopards), Robinson Ofuokwo (City Stars), Oliver Page (Top Fry), Francis Baraza (Western Stima) and Salim Ali (Ulinzi Stars) who have all been sacked this season.
Meanwhile, Sofapaka ended Tusker’s unbeaten run last weekend at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos with a 4-2 win. Sofapaka played with vigour, courage and determination as outhful winger Danson Kago, was the toast of the afternoon, claiming a hat-trick before top scorer, Enock Agwanda, added another in the dying stages of the match.
With that win, Sofapaka succeeded where champions Gor Mahia failed. In their last meeting three weeks ago, Gor could only manage a 1-1 draw despite playing against 10 men.
Despite their defeat, Tusker remain top with a one-point cushion over second placed Gor Mahia. Head coach Francis Kimanzi however believes that with just nine games played, 21 still to come and a massive 63 points up for grabs, the race is still wide open.
“It was one of the best games, very explosive. Each side gave its best but at the end of the day there must be only one winner.
“My players gave their best and I cannot blame them. There is still much to fight for and focus should be on the many matches still left,” Kimanzi said.
At the Afraha Stadium last weekend, Gor rallied from a goal down to beat Ulinzi Stars 2-1 in a hard-fought victory.
