WILL THEY MAKE A MARK? Coaches make KPL return hoping to prove a point

PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

Less has been talked about the coaches going to make the debut in this year’s Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season and those returning to the domestic scene after a short/long spell.

With the season kicking off today, we take a look at both the debutantes and returnees ready to make a mark in the topflight football.

Returnees

Stewart Hall (AFC Leopards)

It is one of the hottest and unforgiving post in KPL. But being a strict disciplinarian, someone that AFC have been lacking in the past few seasons, and having guided Azam to the 2015 Cecafa Kagame Cup title triumph, the former Sofapaka coach can turn Ingwe into title contenders. His patience and belief in young players has made him a darling in the den.

Winning the title this year will not be easy, but with the new-look exciting and youthful side, the next two or three years could be very interesting. The Briton joined AFC at the close of last season.

Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo (Posta Rangers)

Pamzo, as he is popularly known, is a taskmaster, who brings vast experience, both as a player and as a coach at Rangers. The former Kenyan international, who was appointed as Zedekiah Otieno’s successor in November 2016, won the 2011 KPL title with Tusker before lifting the 2015 Indian Premier League with East Bengal as an assistant coach.

Sammy Okoth (Zoo Kericho)

The former Oserian FC and Karuturi FC coach returns to KPL after several years in the lower tier league with Zoo Kericho, a team making their KPL debut after years of near misses.

The former Kenyan international, who served as Ken Kenyatta’s assistant at Ushuru in 2015, was appointed as the debutante’s coach early in the year alongside experienced Nick Yakhama who will serve as the Technical Director.

Abdallah Juma (Chemelil Sugar)

Juma, whose greatest strengths has been his faith in youth, is back in the KPL after being appointed as Francis Baraza’s (now at Tusker-assistant coach) replacement in January.

Juma’s last management role in KPL was in 2014 as an assistant coach at AFC Leopards. He previously coached Thika United, Kenya Commercial Bank, Congo United and Bidco United.

Debutantes

George Nsimbe

The Ugandan has a Herculean task to successfully defend the KPL title his fellow countryman Paul Nkata (now at Bandari) won with the brewers last year. But he seems to have started off his Tusker coaching career on a wrong note as the warning lights are already flashing following Tusker’s abysmal elimination from the CAF Champions League by minnows and their 1-0 Super Cup defeat to Gor Mahia.

William Muluya (Kariobangi Sharks)

A graduate of MYSA served as Mathare United’s Team Manager for a couple of years before deciding to follow his heart and switched to training and coaching. Muluya helped Kariobangi Sharks earn their maiden KPL promotion after finishing second in the National Super League last season. He is a devotee of attractive football and his star is rapidly rising. With resources at his disposal, expect Sharks to pull off surprises.

Bernard Mwalala (Nzoia United)

The former Kenyan international will relish the opportunity to manage the National Super League champions on their return to the KPL after a long absence. He is regarded as one of the most promising coaches in the country, but the league represents a tremendous step up for him in his first KPL coaching job. Mwalala, a former Nzoia United striker, rejoined the Bungoma-based outfit as a coach in 2014 from Tanzania’s Coastal Union where he served as an assistant coach.

Giovanni Troiani (Nakumatt)

The Italian becomes the second European coach in the KPL this season. The other is Leopards Stewart Hall.