Conduct led to Baraza sacking: Western Stima deny firing coach after defeat by Tusker last Sunday

BY GILBERT WANDERA AND RODGERS ESHITEMI

Francis Baraza was sacked by Western Stima last week on disciplinary grounds and not poor performance.

Western Stima chairman, Laban Jobita, who refused to divulge the exact disciplinary cases, said investigations carried out by the club have found the coach guilty of misconduct, hence his sacking.

“We cannot sack a coach so early in the season due to performance. The reasons are disciplinary and we do not want to make anything public because he still has a long future.

“He is well aware of the reasons that forced us to terminate his contract and agrees with our decision,” said Jobita.

The Stima chairman also announced that former international Ramadhan Balala will take over the club on a temporary basis as they look for a permanent replacement.

“Balala will be the interim coach for now. We have asked for coaches to apply for the vacant position,” he said.

Baraza was sacked a few hours after his side squandered a 1-0 lead to go down 3-1 to former champions Tusker at Nyayo Stadium. It was the team’s first loss of the season after they had stopped Mathare United 1-0 in the season opener.

Contacted however, the coach has refuted allegations of indiscipline as the reason for his sacking and instead claimed the management was trying to interfere with his work.

“Some people in the management wanted me to field Fredrick Nyarombo instead of Dennis Onkangi, but I refused and that is when problems began. I viewed it as interference in my work, which I could not allow,” he said.
Two fellow Kenyan Premier League (KPL) coaches termed Barasa’s sacking as unfair and unwarranted.

Mathare United coach Stanley Okumbi said the coach should have been allowed time to build his team especially after losing some key players at the end of last season.

sacking unfair

“It is too early to fire a coach especially one who is building a team. Looks like it was planned from a long time ago and they were just waiting for the right time to strike,” he said.

Ali said the sacking was unfair and came at the wrong time. Kenya Football Coaches Association has advised its members to insist on water-tight contracts before taking over coaching jobs.

Baraza said he had lost the backing of the management citing interference from the club’s chairman Laban Jobita as the main reason for his dismissal.

“We’ve had a lot of issues even before the season started, but the main one has been technical bench interference.  He’s always questioned my fielding and signings, but picking Dennis Onkangi for Tusker game was against his wish. There was some discomfort in the camp before the match and even the boys played with fear on Saturday,’’ said the former Harambee Stars assistant coach.

“Anyway, I saw it coming and I don’t have any ill feelings towards the club or the management. Coaches come and go, so I wish them all the best in their endeavours, Baraza said.