Elite coaches endorse Mwendwa for FKF job

FOOTBALL COACHES Ulinzi Stars coach Robert Matano flanked by former international player Doreen Nabwire

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirant Nick Mwendwa has received the backing of elite coaches in his bid to take over the association.

In making the decision, the elite coaches have differed with the coaching association - Kenya Football Coaches Association (KEFOCA), who have thrown their weight behind Gor Ssemalango.

Speaking after a meeting of 53 coaches, 12 from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), Ulinzi Stars coach Robert Matano said their decision to back Mwendwa was made after thorough consultation and looking at what he has done.

“He has been through the system. He understands what the coaches and players go through and is therefore best placed to bring change in local football,” he said.

Matano said being major stakeholders, the coaches believe only the candidature of Mwendwa will turn around their situation.

“We believe he is the man who will bring us youth programmes that will turn around the sport. We have a lot of problems in Kenyan football and a lot of it is brought about by lack of structures. He is our hope for this change,” he added.

Matano also hit out at KEFOCA for failing to come up with standards to regulate the practice of coaching in Kenya.

“They have let us down by not regulating foreigners or offering training opportunities to members.

We do not even have welfare for coaches after they have retired. We need things like co-operative societies,” he said.

He blamed KEFOCA’s failure to do this on their differences with the federation.
Bandari coach Twahir Muhiddin in backing Mwendwa’s candidature said: “We have watched him in the last 15 years run a club using his own resources and believe he can do the job.

We believe he will use wisely the funds brought by world body Fifa to develop football.”