City stars in crisis? Cash-strapped club parts ways with coach Ofuokwu

By GILBERT WANDERA

Nairobi City Stars coach Robinson Ndubuisi Ofuokwu reacts during a past Kenyan Premier League match against Gor Mahia. [Photo:BONIFACE OKENDO/standard]

A good number of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs continue to suffer financially and on Sunday Nairobi City Stars were forced to release coach Robinson Ndubuisi Ofuokwu.

The coach was let go after the club admitted it could not afford to continue paying his Sh90,000 monthly salary.

City Stars chairman Peter Jabuya said the move was made following a meeting between the two parties and it was by mutual agreement.

“We have been experiencing financial problems since the season started and had hoped things would get better. However this has not been the case.

“Our efforts to get a shirt sponsor has hit a dead end and rather than have friction between ourselves and the coach, we have agreed that he be released from his contract with immediate effect,” explained Jabuya.

He revealed that the club has not paid its players for the last two months owing to the financial problems at the Kawangware-based side.

Development fee

“It has been difficult for everyone at the club and we continue to ask Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to expedite our documents so that we can be paid our development fee by English side Southampton,” he said.

The club is yet to receive close to Sh8 million from Southampton for the signing-up of Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama.

The club has appointed  Tim Byreet  as stand-in coach as they look for a  permanent replacement.

Even as he leaves the club, the former City Stars coach is owed  Sh90,000.

Elsewhere, Ulinzi Stars first choice goalkeeper Francis Ochieng’ will be out of Wednesday’s match against Western Stima.

Knee injury

Ochieng’ has been down with a bout of malaria. The team will also be without Kevin Simiyu who has been ruled out for two months with a torn knee ligament.

Another player who will be out of action for the club is Stephen Ocholla who is nursing a knee injury.

Assistant coach Benjamin Nyangweso has in the meantime expressed delight at returning to the club.

“I am pleased to be back because this is a team I really love. Even when I was not there, it was not easy for me whenever they lost. I believe that I still have something that I can offer the team,” he told the club’s website.

Nyangweso said he is also glad to be working with head coach Robert Matano.

“He is a coach who has won titles with different teams and I think his experience added on to mine will be good for the team.

We may have started badly but I believe we will get back to good results. We have a team that has quality and we are working to see to it that we improve on our weak areas,” he noted. —[e-mail]