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The Kenyan Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in Africa today. As such, one slip up from any team can lead to serious consequences. Any coach tasked with leading a team in the KPL has to be on top of his game at all times.
In the 2019-20 season, two high profile coaches have already been released from their duties due to poor performances. Teams have realized that it only takes a single slip up and find themselves battling relegation. So, early warning signs are key and the coaching staff must be changed promptly.
Here are some head coaches that are under the microscope at the moment.
1. Charles Odera
Chemilil’s Charles Odera comes in first as he's the most likely to go soon. A solid manager who prided himself in drilling his team to be defensively disciplined and difficult to break down.
This season, however, it just isn’t coming together for Odera at all. His team has looked light at the back and look like they will concede with every attack coming their way.
The manager cannot be blamed for all their woes, though. He has done his best despite the tight budget he has to work with. Also, the club has a lot of off-field issues that need to be sorted out before they can gain any momentum.
Financial constraints due to the departure of official KPL sponsors SportPesa has left the club unable to meet certain obligations.
2. William Muluya
This is one coach that shouldn’t have been on this list. Unfortunately though, William Muluya is. The Kariobangi Sharks coach has done a good job for the longest time for his club. He has certainly been one of the reasons why the Sharks have been a force to be reckoned with since they came to the KPL.
But this season, things haven’t gone according to plan for Muluya, whose team is currently in 15th place with just 8 points. The Sharks have certainly been struggling and the coach is in serious trouble. Like most coaches, this season, the financial struggles of the league have left clubs unable to meet certain obligations which have in turn led to poor performances.
3. Bernard Mwalala
When the Dockers released Ken Odhiambo from duty and replaced him with Bernard Mwalala, they certainly thought it would be a good move. The change, however, hasn’t gone as expected as Mwalala hasn’t lived up to the hype.
The former Harambee Stars player-led Bandari to 14th in the league standings this season. That isn’t what they had expected especially after finishing 2nd last season. It just isn’t going to plan for the young tactician and he may just be the casualty of such poor standings and unacceptable performances.
The team isn’t lacking in personnel, but what looks to be lacking for them is an old head that can turn matches around. Last season, when Bandari won the Shield, Mwalala brought about new ideas and it now looks like he has been found out. He looks out of his depth tactically and doesn’t make the right changes when plan A doesn’t look to be working.
A change in management may just be what Bandari needs to change their fortunes and maybe stay clear off the scrappy relegation battle.
4. Henry Omino
After the heavy defeat at the hands of Gor on Sunday, it’s only a matter of time before Omino gets the boot. Gor is certainly a stronger side than his Kisumu All-Stars, but the levels of performances under Omino have left a lot to be desired.
With just 8 points to date this season, the experience that Omino was brought in to utilise is certainly not showing. The development that saw them climb to the KPL last season isn’t being replicated. Maybe, they should have stuck to the technical bench that lifted them last season. Sitting idle in 16th place on the table out of 18 isn’t what they expected and changes need to be rung soon enough, especially in the wake of that Gor defeat. All-Stars have certainly found it tough against the big boys and are favourites for the drop come to the end of the season.
