Ambani, Okumbi axed
By Gibo Zachary and James Magayi
Struggling Kenyan Premier League side Wazito FC have temporarily elevated assistant coach Hamisi Abdalla after sacking head coach Fred Ambani and technical director Stanley Okumbi on Sunday.
Wazito, the biggest spenders in the transfer window, have failed to back up their outlay on the pitch, managing just one win out of the opening six games and were thrashed 4-2 by Kakamega Homeboyz in their latest setback on Saturday.
The newly-promoted team find themselves in 13th position on the 18-team log with six points, nine behind leaders Gor Mahia who still have a game in hand, and it is this slump that has forced the club’s hierarchy to act.
“Hamisi will be in charge of the tram in the interim but we are talking to about three coaches and we will make an announcement by Wednesday (tomorrow),” Wazito sporting director Solomon Alubala told People Sport yesterday.
The news comes amid reports that Ambani and Okumbi were not reading from the same script with the two not agreeing on the starting lineup for Saturday’s clash.
The new development is, however, not surprising going by what the club owner Dubai-based business Ricardo Badoer has been posting on Twitter.
Badoer seemed to sounded the death-knell for the duo after Saturday’s loss, writing: “Congrats to @Khomeboyz for their win. They deserved it while our defense (sic) looked like they spent too much time at KFC. I apologize (sic) to our fans and promise we will work on making the changes needed.” Meanwhile, cash-strapped Gor Mahia maintained an excellent start to their title defence with a fifth victory on the trot to seize a two-point lead on the table.
Even with their skipper Kenneth Muguna and his assistant Joash Onyango absconding duty, K’Ogalo defied great odds to overcome a motivated Kariobangi Sharks with an injury time strike to seal three points.
The club has not paid salaries for two months and feared the worst, heading into the fixture.
“The situation is not ideal not just here but when we decide to do something we do it perfectly. Our squad is large enough and I’m happy that the new players are stepping up to claim their spot in the team,” said Gor head coach Steven Polack after Ghanaian Francis Afrie popped up with the goal.
The issue of funds also saw 2006 champions Sony Sugar fail to honour their second game in a row and handed Bandari three points on a platter and so was Chemelil Sugar who also absconded duty over a cash crunch, giving Tusker free points.
