2015 WECHE MANYIEN MAG ADHULA ***:***:***:***:***:***:***: 2014 Kenyan Football Review: Top 10 Highlights 2014 will go down memory lane as a year that had its ups and downs as far as football is concerned and as we bid goodbye to the year that was, Futaa has highlighted the top ten talking points for the year that was. 1. CHARITY CUP After a busy December 2013 – January 2014 transfer activity, teams settled down to participate in the second edition of the four team Kenya Power Charity Cup which Sofapaka claimed their second successive title after seeing off Mathare United on post match penalties on Sunday 2 February at Nyayo Stadium. Sofapaka edged out Gor Mahia as Mathare United saw off a star studded AFC Leopards. Fan trouble however marred the Sofapaka – Gor Mahia game forcing police to fire tear gas canisters at the rowdy groups of fans who with no escape routes, flocked into the field of play and roughed up a police officer, leaving him badly injured as his colleagues fled. It happened after Ingwe had been knocked out by a new look Mathare United. 2. AFC, GOR FAIL IN CONTINENTALS Despite enjoying the largest fan base in the country, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards yet again failed to live up to the billing at the continental stage as they represented the country at a bigger stage after both failed to go past the first round of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup respectively. In early March 2014, Gor eliminated a stubborn Gabonese side US Bitam in the preliminaries but went through baptism by fire in the hands of Tunisian giants Esperance facing a 8 – 2 humiliation in the 1st round. Counterparts, Leopards bowed out too at the same stage to South African side SuperSport United having knocked out Ethiopian side Defence FC in the preliminaries. 3. FIRED; RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTER It has been widely said that coaching is a thankless job and this seems to have been perfected in the Kenyan Premier League [KPL]. Coaches are more often than not blamed if their respective teams post negative results but its players and club management who earn praises if teams perform. Same was the case right from the beginning of the year. Half of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) teams had different coaches over the season. Nairobi City Stars settled on Nigerian Robinson Ndubuisi Ofuokwu after Dutchman Jan Koops left at the end of 2013. Ndubuisi later quit on 7 April with British born Tim Bryett replacing him. Bryett however parted ways with the Kawangware based club on 2 August citing sabotage, 18 days after Ofuokwu had returned for a second stint till the end of the season. Leonard Odipo Tusker too acquired the services of former Stars coach Francis Kimanzi who replaced Robert Matano who was sacked in late November 2013. Matano later joined Ulinzi Stars on 27 March to take over from Salim Ali who willingly resigned after an unimpressive start to the season. Kimanzi appointed little known but qualified Leonard Odipo, a former KCB assistant, Kibera Celtic and Bidco United coach as his deputy. Francis Baraza turned to Muhoroni Youth on 10 March after being fired at Western Stima on 23 February together with his assistant Hesbon Nyabinge. He took over from Patrick Odhiambo who was relegated to the deputy coach role. Henry Omino meanwhile returned to Stima on 1 March on a year deal. Nyabinge joined Kakamega Homeboyz and later West Kenya. Other changes at Muhoroni saw Mike Odongo replace Albert Shamola in the Team Manager (TM)’s role. Oliver Page On 5 March, 1963 KPL winners Nakuru AllStars parted ways with German Oliver Page. The club later announced Nick Yakhama as the new member on their technical bench on 12 June to partner Peter Okidi though the formers position was not clearly defined. On 10 April, AFC Leopards sacked the entire technical bench led by Head Coach James Nandwa, assistant Mickey Weche and team manager Francis Xavier. Nandwa has since returned to club coaching at Tanzanian side Coastal Union. Ingwe then appointed goalkeeper coach Washington Muhanji as interim coach before Juma Abdallah, who was shown the boot at KCB on 15 April joined the den as assistant coach. Richard Madegwa too returned to the den this time round as the TM. He was later kicked out by Dutchman Hendrik Pietter De Jongh who came in on 19 May, as Willis Waliaula took his tag on 11 July. The two, De Jongh and Abdalla have since been fired as well. Frank Nuttal Elsewhere, former Bandari FC tactician Rishadi Shedu was confirmed at KCB as Juma Abdalla replacement on 1 May. Shedu joined the team at the brink of being relegated but his magic touch lessened their fears hence able to avoid the axe. As the season reached its penultimate stage, league leaders Gor Mahia hired Scot Frank Nuttal to stand in for Bobby Williamson who had landed a Harambee Stars responsibility. Nuttal was unveiled on 3 September to link up with other new faces in Tom Ogweno (Physical trainer), Jolawi Obondo (TM) and Mathew Owino (goalkeeper trainer) on the bench. Idd Mohammed Salim had been thrown out as goalkeeper coach . National Super League (NSL) And finally Thika United Head Coach John Kamau left for promoted side Posta Rangers on 9 December. His former assistant Moses Irungu is currently in charge . Second tier sides were not exempted from the habit. Mike Amenga and Michael Kamure replaced Barrack Ouma and Collins Omondi at Nairobi Stima as Head Coach and assistant respectively in February 2014. Amenga has however ditched the power men for Kariobangi Sharks after the 2014 season. In June 2014, Alfred Imonje joined Bidco United after Sammy Pamzo Omollo threw in the towel. Ezekiel Akwana went to West Kenya Sugar from Mumbi Nationale as Mohammed Mchule took over Abdulnassir Kassim who stepped down at Modern Coast Rangers. Leonard Saleh In July 2014, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) handed Agrochemical coach James Odijo Omondi a six month ban which meant he could no longer handle the Muhoroni based side leaving the responsibility to Steve Bikoh. On 8 August, former Harambee Stars assistant coach Leonard Saleh parted ways with Posta Rangers. George Lombardo Maina was appointed the head coach, the former Tusker assistant steering the mailmen to a top flight return. Still in August, Raphael Auka was unveiled Oserian FC Head Coach after former AFC Leopards deputy coach Nicholas Muyoti called it a day at the former top tier side. Jared Ingutia Kakamega Homeboyz’s rotational mode of coaches continued too. Nyabinge came in for Edward Manoah who reportedly left as the late Jared Ingutia handled the side before Manoah returned, this time as the technical advisor. Saleh was spotted training the side in preparation for the promotion playoff match against Nakumatt FC that had been scheduled for 22 November before the fixture was called off. Their neighbours Nzoia United confirmed the appointment of Bernard Mwalala as the Head Coach, Vincent Sifuma his assistant on 11 December 4. HOOLIGANISM Goons struck again in football stadiums as early as February 2014 during the Charity Cup throughout KPL matches more so pitting big wigs Gor, AFC and Sofapaka. For instance on 27 October, Alfred Mutua’s Kshs. 10 million fine on Gor Mahia following crowd trouble in their game against Sofapaka in Machakos made news headlines. FKF too stepped in with yet other fines and bans on the named clubs that were however lifted later . Even Muhoroni Youth were not left out on the vice as a section of their fans caused fracas in their home match against AFC Leopards on 12 March. Ingwe revenged too in the return leg match at Nyayo Stadium by sprinkling salt on the playing unit. 5. KPL TITLE RACE At first it seemed as if the title that comes with a Kshs. 4 million package was Tusker FC’s to lose but Kimanzi’s side failed to take advantage when eventual winners Gor, who lost their shirt sponsors in March, were away in Rwanda for the CECAFA Kagame Cup. Sofapaka, Chemelil Sugar and Ushuru FC were at one point title favourites but it was Batoto ba Mungu who battled to the final day as Gor retained for a record 14 times. The race to avoid relegation too opened up with KCB, Bandari and Nairobi City battling to avoid joining Top Fry AllStars but finally it was City Stars whose ninth life came to an end, joining the NSL. Promotion criteria The promotion criteria from the second tier to the KPL weren’t clear even as the league neared its close raising eyebrows from a section of concerned parties. Finally, the criteria was confirmed enabling NSL Zone A leaders Posta Rangers qualify to the top tier as confusion marred the Zone B on who finished top to get promoted. Was it Shabana FC or Zoo Kericho who rightly deserved promotion is a question whose answer will come in time? 6. STARS’ AFCON MISS, KENYA U20, U17 OUT Tales of so close yet so far went viral once more after Kenya’s Harambee Stars failed to eliminate the minnows of Lesotho to reach the group stages of the coveted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set for Equatorial Guinea starting January 2015. After struggling past Comoros thanks to Belgian based duo; Johanna Omolo and Ayub Timbe’s respective goals in the first and second leg ties, Stars without suspended Adel Amrouche could not score in the two legged qualification round against a team legendary Joe Kadenge could not describe football wise. The miss meant Kenya will still wait to return to the African show-piece having last featured in 2004, Stars then under the tutelage of Jacob Ghost Mulee and skipper Musa Otieno who is currently the national team assistant coach working under Head Coach and Scot Bobby Williamson and team manager Simon Sepe Mulama who replaced Algerian born Amrouche, assistants Nandwa and Kenneth Odhiambo after what FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya termed ‘failing to deliver despite all the resources at their disposal’. No CECAFA But Williamson, who remains winless in two friendly matches would be an irked man after the 2014 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup was called off due to lack of a hosting nation. The two time winner of the same tournament with Uganda Cranes would have proved his capability for the job by perhaps defending the title Kenya won in 2013 at their backyard. Meanwhile, Kenya’s objectives in youth football were subjected to test after the Under-20 team was knocked out of the African Youth U20 Championship by neighbours Tanzania in the first round in April 2014 as the Kenya Under-17, who were drawn against South Sudan, pulled out of the 2015 Niger bound championship. 7. KPL VS FKF SUPREMACY BATTLE League managers, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Limited and the local football governing body, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) were and are still at loggerheads over a number of issues. One, the KPL awarded Tusker points after their abandoned game against Muhoroni Youth quoting FIFA Law 3 in support of their verdict only for the federation to overrule the decision without quoting any FIFA rules to back their directive. 16 or 18 teams And then the troubled SoNy Sugar – AFC Leopards game that was cast in doubt after SoNy Sugar failed to travel to Nakuru in protest after it was moved from Awendo. Two, over the number of teams to take part in next year’s premier league. The KPL insists on having 16 while FKF remains adamant that there will be 18 teams in the 2015 KPL. A controversy that attracted consultation from FIFA delegates but time will tell hopefully before the league kicks off in mid February 2015. 8. OFFICIATING A number of referees were on spot over the level of officiating especially in the league with stakeholders taking a swipe at the standards of some of the whistle blowers. The referees were not only blamed but also condemned the federation for failing to foot their bills incurred in officiating the Shield Cup matches. They finally gave up on demanding their accrued dues. They were injured, hospitalized and some suspended while in the line of duty. And on a sad note, Kenya lost a popular FIFA referee in Thomas Odijo Onyango on Sunday 19 January. Andrew Juma replaced him in the FIFA officials list . 9. CONTROVERSIAL KPL AWARDS A debate on whether the 2014 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) awarding process was fair or biased took centre stage immediately after the winners were announced in an awards gala night on 21 November. A number of stakeholders noted lack of transparency in the nomination and awarding process with some posting their approval and others disapproval feeling the process should have been conducted by an independent group. The FKF was not left out as they too felt the process was biased in a way to leave the most deserving players, coaches and referees out but at the end of the day, the winners still bagged their trophies and cash awards . 10. PLAYERS ABROAD - I am targeting to work extra hard next season so that I can at least start scoring goals and have an improved season than the just ended one , were the words of Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama in a futaa interview on 22 May 2014. Months later, the Kenyan international, who scored 10 league goals in 61 appearances for Scottish side Celtic in 2013, was back on the score sheet. He currently has three league goals in 17 appearances for the English Premier League (EPL) side. Meanwhile, it was another year that saw the number of Kenyan players flocking into foreign leagues in search of greener pastures increase. Out of 14 players who flew out in 2014, only four returned after a short stint or rather unsuccessful with their clubs. Justus Anene Edwin Lavatsa (MC Alger, Algeria) and Francis Kahata (FK Tirana, Albania) returned home after six months overseas while Kevin Omondi (Moroka Swallows, South Africa) and Job Omuse (St. George FC, Ethiopia) jetted back after four and three months abroad respectively. On a positive note, Peter Pinchez Opiyo, Peeki Kamau Mungai, Paul Were Ooko, Rama Salim, Justus Anene, Allan Wanga, Anthony Teddy Akumu, Paul Mungai Kiongera and Haevenar Maloba landed different clubs across the world while Swiss based Francis Ouma is yet to start featuring for FC Grenchen due to some pending issues. List of Kenyan players abroad Finland; Peter Opiyo (FF Jaro), Amos Ekhalie, Anthony Dafaa (IFK Mariehamn), Norway; Arnold Origi (Lillestroem SK), Christian Bwamy (Follo FK), Wycliffe Juma (Mjolner) Sweden ; Robert Mambo (FC Gute), Haevenar Maloba (Friska Viljor FC), Sunday Eyenga (Sleipner), Peeki Kamau Mungai (Salsåker-Ullångers IF), France; Dennis Oliech (AC Ajaccio), Luis Tera Misiko (OGC Nice), Belgium; Ayub Timbe (Lierse SK), Johanna Omolo (Royal Antwerp), South Africa; Paul Were (AmaZulu FC), Brian Mandela (Engen Santos), David Gateri (ASD Cape Town), Sudan; Allan Wanga (El Merreikh), Anthony Akumu (Khartoum-3), Tanzania; Rama Salim (Coastal Union), Paul Kiongera (Simba SC), India; Curtis Osano (Bengaluru FC), Malaysia; Lawrence Olum (Kedah FA), Uganda; Justus Anene (SC Villa), Saudi Arabia; David Ochieng’ (Al Tawoon), England; Victor Wanyama (Southampton), Italy; McDonald Mariga (Parma), Paul Thiong’o (Empoli Youth), Azerbaijan; Patrick Osiako (Simurq PIK) Players with Kenyan background; Nasra Abdullahi (Lillestroem, Women), Bruce Kamau and Awer Mabil (Adelaide United, Australia), Divock Origi (Lille, France). You can share your 2014 highlights too as well as 2015 expectations on both our Facebook and Twitter accounts. To all our esteemed readers, Happy New Year and a prosperous 2015!!! Written by 02/01-15 08:30
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 07:59:22 +0000
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