Francis Baraza's journey from player to full coach

Feisal FC, Ulinzi Stars, and Oserian Fastac FC are three of the four sides based outside Nairobi that have won the Kenya Premier League. Ulinzi began in Thika before moving to Nakuru but have since moved to their new base in Lang'ata. Sony Sugar FC is the first club from football-mad Western Kenya to have won the KPL in 2006. Thirty-two-year-old Francis Baraza successfully transitioned from player-coach to full coach to lead the Awendo-based club to their first league title.

This happened during the "lost decade" of Kenyan football between 2000 and 2009 when Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards' fortunes dwindled. That era saw Mathare United and Sofapaka also winning their only league titles so far, in 2008 and 2009 respectively. It was also an era of coups, disputes, and confusion in Kenyan football.