Football: Western Stima cut off Barasa connection

By GILBERT WANDERA

Francis Barasa

Western Stima Coach Francis Barasa became the first Kenyan Premier League (KPL) tactician to be fired a few hours after his side went down 3-1 to Tusker on Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium.

Barasa confirmed he has received the letter sending him home but insisted he has no hard feelings over the move.

“I really don’t understand what happened. After the game and without any explanation, I was given the letter sending me home. However, I take it positively and have no hard feelings,” he said.

Barasa insisted his side gave their best despite going down 3-1 to Tusker.

“The boys really gave their all and even some of our bosses were at the stadium to witness the same. So that cannot be the excuse for my sacking,” he said.

Barasa joined Stima in 2012 and last year the team barely survived relegation after finishing in 12th position.

In an earlier interview after his team went down to Tusker, Barasa had admitted their opponents were superior.

“We could not stop them. They were very imposing but I also blame my defenders for failing to contain their forays into our half.

“We did not relax but made many mistakes especially for the first and second goals. Our defenders watched as they brought in crosses from the flanks. It would have been easier to contain them but we did not,” he said.

Barasa admitted the introduction of Jesse Were by his opponents was a game changer as the forward scored one and made assists in the other two.

“Their substitutions worked well and Were destroyed us. He dropped and picked balls and we took time to stop him giving him too much space to play. We paid for it,” he added.

Tusker Coach Francis Kimanzi on the other side accused Stima of playing negative football.

“It was a bit disappointing to see them defend after scoring the opening goal. That was negative football and it denied the players an opportunity to show their best,” said Kimanzi.