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AFC Leopards in pounced on the player in January leaving the mail men high and dry.
Posta Rangers interim coach Bernard Kawinzi has opened up about the detrimental effect of losing former captain Kennedy Owino to AFC Leopards and how it disrupted the team's title challenge.
The departure of Owino, a pivotal figure in the team, led to a significant downturn in form, forcing the club to suspend head coach John Kamau and promote Kawinzi in a bid to stabilize the squad.
Rangers had started the season strong, challenging Gor Mahia for the title with a cohesive team where everyone understood their roles.
However, Owino’s move in January created a void that the team struggled to fill. Kawinzi, who recently earned his CAF A coaching license, adopted a pragmatic approach to halt the poor run of results, but the team remains eighth on 47 points after a disappointing second half of the campaign.
“Of course. When you plan for preseason with the players you have, you build a team to compete. But when some of your players are snatched from you, it affects the team,” Kawinzi told Pulse Sports.
“We lost Ken at a time when the team was on the up in terms of form. It affected our plans because by the time you try to come up with another partnership, it will take a while to gel which affects our telepathy. We have struggled but these players are more than capable of doing well.”
Kawinzi reflected on his tenure as interim coach, expressing satisfaction with the defensive improvements but acknowledging that there is room for better performances.
Since stepping in, Kawinzi’s primary focus has been to shore up the defense, reducing the number of goals conceded and aiming for a solid finish to the season.
“If you look, since our head coach left, I had to step in as interim. The point was to stop the bleed and then if the management was satisfied with what I did, hopefully I would get the job permanently.
“We had conceded nearly 12 goals in the three games before our head coach was suspended. We were not in a good place. The point was to try and shut things up, and I think we have been better defensively.
“The job was to make sure our goal difference was reduced. We haven’t lost a game by three goals or more. The target has been achieved, but that is not enough if you lose games."
Kawinzi is hopeful that with a positive result against Tusker FC and Muhoroni, he might secure the head coach position on a permanent basis.
“With a draw like this, and a good result against Tusker FC as well as Muhoroni, maybe the management could give me the team on a permanent basis.”
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09:16 - 17.06.2024
Former AFC Leopards coach Luc Eymael on what the current crop of Harambee Stars players lack
Eymael, who helped AFC Leopards win the FKF Cup in 2013, has revealed what the current Harambee Stars squad lacks compared to 10 years ago.
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