Timbe is here to stay, says Sofapaka chief Kalekwa

Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa on Tuesday refuted claims that the Domestic Cup holders’ Ugandan coach, Sam Timbe, is unsettled at the club.

Speculation had been rife that the soft spoken tactician may not link up with the team in the second leg but Timbe returned to the country last week after a prolonged holiday in his native country.

In an interview with Nation Sport, the usually calm Kalekwa lost his temper when queried over the reports.

“Who told you that he will not come, who said that his contract has run out and he is uncomfortable here?” he charged.

“I don’t have much to say, but I can tell you that we have no problem with him. He has done a good job, and once his contract runs out at the end of next month, we will sit down and talk.”

Timbe, in a separate interview with Nation Sport early last week, was also non-committal on his future: “I cannot talk about that (contract details), ask the president,” he said.

OVERLOOKED

Timbe was heavily tipped to bag the Kenyan Premier League Coach of the Year award last term but was controversially overlooked by his fellow professionals, who instead chose local talent, Chemelil Sugar coach, Mike Mururi, despite the Ugandan having led Sofapaka, to a runner’s position in the league as well as the winning the GOtv Shield Cup.

Chemelil, under Mururi, finished fourth.

At the same time, Kalekwa said that he will push for the renewal of the shirt sponsorship package with Blue Triangle Cement once the current deal runs out mid next year.

The cement fracturing firm have been their shirt sponsors for the last three years. “Its’ still early (to the expiry of the deal), but of course we are keen on renewing it,” he said.