Coach Francis Baraza set to change employer for the second time in Tanzania

FILE PHOTO: Tusker FC Francis Baraza against AS Port Louis(Mauritius) during the 21ST Edition of Total CAFChampions League at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday 11/02/17.[BONIFACE OKENDO]

Biashara United head coach Francis Baraza is on the brink of joining a second club, barely two years after he landed in the Tanzanian Mainland Premier League.

Baraza, who lifted the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title with Sony Sugar in 2006, still has a realistic chance of winning the League this season with his club currently sitting fourth in the Tanzanian Premier League table, 11points behind leaders Young Africans.

But the former Chemelil Sugar coach could drop this title dream should he agree on a deal with Kagera Sugar, a side sitting deep on the lower bottom of the league table.

Baraza has been riding on the high tides with Bashara United, a small club based in a small lakeside town of Musoma, since he left Kenya for a greener pasture in Tanzania in November 2019,

"I can confirm that Kagera FC have approached me and talks are still ongoing," Baraza told Standard Sports.

It is reported that Kagera FC has tabled an irresistible offer to the man who has coached Chemelil, Sony Sugar, Muhoroni among other clubs in Kenya.

Unlike Biashara United, who are barely three years in the league, Kagera FC boasted of a solid foundation and relatively strong financial muscle that they want to use to bulldoze their way out of the bottom half.

"Kagera have money and good welfare for coaches," Theodry Johns, a football pundit from Musoma told The Standard Sports.

"Biashara is only three years old in the Tanzanian premier league yet they are minting results under Baraza while Kagera who have been there are struggling. That’s why they need Baraza," Theodry added.

Baraza missed Tuesday’s training, further fueling the exit talks with sources saying that he may have handled his last match over the weekend.

Baraza is the only Kenyan coach to have lifted two league titles as a player and one as a coach.

He won the league with AFC Leopards in 1998 and Oserian (2001) before guiding Sony Sugar to their only top podium finish in 2006.

Fact box

Baraza’s record

KPL league titles            

Year      Club

1998      AFC Leopards

2001      Oserian FC

As coach

2006      Sony Sugar