Coaches need security of tenure to be efficient and productive

The local football scene has witnessed significant changes, with both clubs and national team coaches experiencing a high turnover.

This week, AFC Leopards coach Gilbert Selebwa was shown the door due to lack of commitment to club duties and was replaced by his deputy Edward Manoa, with former Bandari coach Twahir Muhiddin being tipped to take over as Leopards’ new tactician.

Likewise, Premier League sides Gor Mahia, Western Stima, Tusker and national team Harambee Stars have witnessed a huge turnover of coaches in the recent past.

AFC Leopards’ fans seem to be quickly following on the footsteps of Gor Mahia fans who have been known to pile pressure on coaches when their teams lose in the Kenyan Premier League matches. This has sometimes led to the sacking of coaches. This trend is disastrous in several ways. First, it creates lack of consistency of programmes and club projects as new coaches champion new ideas, ignoring programmes left mid-way by their predecessors.

Whereas new ideas are welcome, they are only good when they logically build on foundations laid earlier. Clubs should put in place policies that ensure club projects are pursued to completion despite changes in their technical benches.

Secondly, it disrupts players’ training programmes as new coaches will always come up with new styles and patterns of playing and sometimes even new players. It is necessary for coaches to be given security of tenure for continuity, efficiency and productivity.