Who will give struggling 'Otenga' wings to fly?

Will it be Andrew Aroka or another new face?

This is the question in the minds of Kisumu All Stars players and their supporters after the club Tuesday called for applications for the position of a coach.

Other positions, which the troubled All Stars announced are; assistant coach, physical trainer and goalkeeper trainer.

Youthful tactician Aroka has been in charge of the team since February and together with assistant coaches - Ambrose Otieno and Jeff Odongo as well as physical trainer Evans Oketch, their six-month contracts have run out but they are still holding brief.

The goalkeeper trainer position has remained vacant since Joseph Ongoro was shown the door in January, alongside Coach Henry Omino who died in March.

All Stars Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Ochieng said with the club being sponsored by Kisumu County Government, it is the Public Service Board that will decide on who take up the positions based on their qualifications.

“The advertisement is in line with the Public Service Board requirements and they are the ones who will make the decision on who to pick for the job,” said Ochieng.

Aroka, who was also fired alongside Omino and Ongoro before the club recalled him in February, said he will try his luck to retain his position.

“The club is in my heart, so I will apply for the job like everyone else. I hope they will give me another chance to lead the team,” said Aroka.

The advertisement for the four positions come, as the club continues with preparations, while awaiting a ruling by the Sports and Dispute Tribunal (SDT), which will determine whether they face-off with Vihiga United in the Kenya Premier League (KPL) promotion/relegation play-off.

Chemelil Sugar and Kenya Premier League Limited have petitioned the SDT to withhold Football Kenya Federation’s annulment of the 2019/20 KPL season on April 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The hearing of the matter is ongoing and should SDT upholds FKF’s decision to relegate Sony Sugar FC and Chemelil Sugar FC to the National Super League, All Stars and Vihiga United will fight for a place in next season's top flight league.

The top tier league will be referred to as BetKing Premier League following the Sh1.2billion sponsorship deal that FKF signed with the gaming company.

Aroka said that they are ready for any outcome by the SDT. “We have set our mind on the clash (KPL play-off) and the players have been training at home. We are just waiting for the ruling that SDT will give,” said Aroka.

He is the fifth tactician to have taken charge of All Stars since its formation in November 2017. Former Kenyan international Nick Aketch who was the club’s first coach resigned in October 2018 after going for several months without salary and allowances. Up to now, Kisumu County Government has not settled his dues, alongside the then assistant coach Paul Ogai who is now Coast Stima’s head coach.

Aketch was replaced by another former Kenyan International and AFC Leopards player, Francis Oduor who boasts of guiding the team to the KPL in June 2019.

With the club looking for a person who could steer them to a good campaign in the top-flight league, they appointed veteran tactician Omino as coach and relegated Oduor to assistant coach role.

But the going proved tough for Omino and in January, he was sacked following a string of poor results, which many blamed on lack of motivation among the players due to financial challenges the club has been going through since its formation.

Then the team was ranked 16th having recorded just two wins, two draws and 11 losses in 15 matches. This was way below Omino’s target to guide the team to a top 10 finish.

Oduor took charge of the team on an interim basis for a few weeks before the club appointed Germany-based and trained coach Arthur Opiyo also on temporary basis.

With their target Mike Mururi having snubbed them for the Sofapaka's assistant coach role, All Stars management recalled Aroka in February on a six months contract.

Oduor was sacked from his assistant coach position a few months after Aroka returned to the team.

Already, there was disharmony at the club, as half of the players were out of contract and Ochieng moved to quell the tension by assuring them that “their jobs are secure.”

In April, Ochieng blamed slow work at the county government on coronavirus pandemic, promising that the matter will not take long before being addressed.

But four months down the line, the players are yet to get contracts, with some including the technical bench officials having not received salary since February while others are owed since April. The government’s Sh10, 000 monthly stimulus package to selected athletes countrywide has been their only remaining hope.

This has seen many doubt whether All Stars will defeat Vihiga United in the two-leg play-off in case the SDT upholds FKF’s April 30 decision, with a massive exodus looming this transfer window.