)
Shabana FC are in the hunt for a new coach following the sacking of Sammy Okoth but who are the men they can turn to following their poor run of form?
Shabana FC head coach Sammy Okoth was finally handed his marching orders on Monday.
Okoth has had a tumultuous week which saw him resign before changing his mind but the results did not help his cause.
The former Vihiga United coach threw in the towel after Tore Bobe’s 4-0 thumping by Ulinzi Stars but was back in training the following day before leading his side against Gor Mahia and Bandari.
)
17:00 - 05.11.2023
FOOTBALL No respite for Shabana as defeat at Bandari piles more misery on besieged coach Sammy Okoth
Shabana’s poor run of form continued as Bandari beat them to extend their losing run to three straight matches, adding pressure on their coach Sammy Okoth
Both matches turned out negative as the Glamour Boys lost 1-0 to Gor Mahia before their 2-1 defeat to Bandari over the weekend which has seen them slip to the bottom of the table.
That has left Okoth in a difficult place and it was all clear on Sunday when he delegated media duties to his assistant Oscar Kambona, opting to stay away from the spotlight.
However, that did little to quieten the noise around his position as fans kept calling for his dismissal and the club hierarchy yielded to their demands on Monday evening.
)
16:04 - 04.11.2023
FOOTBALL Injured Gor Mahia midfielder named in Uganda provisional squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers
The Gor Mahia midfielder has been included in new coach Paul Put’s team for the qualifiers against Guinea and Somalia but he will hope to have recovered from his injury by then.
Okoth led Shabana back to the Premier League after 17 years in the lower divisions and a highly demanding fanbase expected that things would be rosy in the top flight just like they were in the National Super League (NSL) where they emerged champions.
Things have been different, however. Tore Bobe have just one win to their name after 11 matches, having drawn four and lost five.
In Okoth’s defence, his squad did not have the quality to go toe-to-toe with most of their Premier League rivals while it was not until the final week of pre-season that he knew the players he was going to sign.
)
10:04 - 02.11.2023
FKFPL Sam Okoth on why he remains at Shabana despite tendering resignation
Okoth has appeared to hint that Shabana officials are keeping him in charge of the club against his will.
Fans though do not remember this and only care about winning, meaning with the defeat to Bandari, his days were numbered.
With Okoth now gone, Shabana are back in the hunt for a new coach. So, who could possibly handle the job and bring some joy onto the faces of Tore Bobe supporters?
Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo
The former Tusker, Posta Rangers and Kenya Police coach is one of the most experienced tacticians who could take over the challenge of resuscitating Shabana.
)
19:00 - 30.10.2023
FOOTBALL ‘He was misquoted’ - Shabana boss claims Sammy Okoth is 'still in charge' amid reports of a new interim coach
Shabana secretary general Elizaphan Kerama has added to the confusion surrounding the club after claiming coach Sammy Okoth is still in charge despite the tactician resigning on Sunday
Pamzo is adept at making teams hard to beat, something Shabana are currently struggling with as they cannot stop conceding. He has also worked under limited budgets at Mahakama, Oserian, and Posta Rangers.
He also knows how to win a title, having led Tusker to the 2011 Premier League crown, and can handle the pressure that comes with a demanding fanbase as he also worked as Gor Mahia’s assistant coach besides having played for K’Ogalo.
Pamzo has admitted he is open to any role now as he is not attached to any club since leaving Kenya Police in December 2022.
)
09:00 - 25.10.2023
FOOTBALL Former Gor Mahia coach lauds K’Ogalo for finding perfect long-term replacement for Ernest Wendo
The former Gor Mahia assistant coach feels the young midfielder has shown that he is capable of taking over from experienced Wendo when he finally exits the scene
“I have not been contacted by anyone but I am a coach and if the terms are right then I look at it,” he told Pulse Sports.
Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno
Another highly experienced coach without a job. The immediate former KCB FC coach also ticks most boxes but whether Shabana would be appealing to him is another matter altogether.
Like Pamzo, Zico has also worked under high-pressure environments following his stints as Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars coach.
)
06:36 - 06.11.2023
FKFPL Tomas Trucha details AFC Leopards problems after torrid season start
Ingwe face challenges in their season, with only one win in ten, despite the potential and a determined head coach.
He did a commendable job at KCB, leading them to three top-five finishes in the four years he was in charge, including missing out on the 2020-21 title by just three points, but that was still not enough for the Bankers who released him at the end of his contract.
How Shabana fans would wish to have such kind of run! Zico also worked at Sony Sugar and Posta Rangers which puts home in good stead to steady the sinking Shabana ship.
He has shown previously that he is also adept at playing attacking football but that might have to take time if he were to get the call to lead Shabana and accept it.
)
11:00 - 05.11.2023
FKFPL AFC Leopards' coach Tomas Trucha issues heartfelt apology to fans after narrow defeat
Ingwe coach Tomas Trucha apologizes after a 3-2 loss to Nairobi City Stars, vowing improvement against Posta Rangers.
Francis Baraza
Another former Sony Sugar coach, Baraza left Kenya Police in October after their poor start to the season but his tactical acumen spans over a decade.
He masterminded Sony Sugar’s title win in 2006 and led the side for many years before they later folded due to financial challenges.
A highly-experienced coach, Baraza also coached Kagera Sugar FC and Biashara United in Tanzania, as well as Muhoroni Youth and Chemelil Sugar.
)
19:30 - 06.10.2023
Francis Baraza slaps Police FC with Ksh 5 million divorce bill
Police fired Francis Baraza after he got injured while attending CAF A License Training and he is now back to demand Ksh 5 million for unfairly discharging him from his duties.
What could even more appealing to Tore Bobe fans is that he is a former Shabana player who might be keen to bring back the smile.
Salim Babu
The Kenya Police assistant coach has been mentioned as one of the potential candidates to take over from Okoth.
Babu joined Police at the start of the season to link up with Baraza but he did not lose his job when his friend and boss was dismissed in October.
)
18:00 - 05.11.2023
FKFPL Gor Mahia share spoils with Kenya Police in dull encounter
Gor Mahia missed the chance to go top as former coach Zdravko Logarusic's Kenya Police frustrated them into sharing the spoils.
However, a chance to take over as the head coach could be appealing, especially at a club with a huge following like Shabana.
Babu did a sterling job at Nzoia Sugar last season, leading them to an impressive third-place finish, after pushing Gor Mahia and Tusker for the title for most of the campaign.
The former Kisumu All Stars and Sony Sugar coach is also good at nurturing young talent as seen during his stint at Nzoia, something Shabana can immensely benefit from.
However, unlike the aforementioned, Shabana might have to negotiate for a settlement with Kenya Police since Babu is still serving as Zdravko Logarusic's assistant.
Robert Matano
Could Shabana offer the besieged Tusker coach an escape route? Following Okoth’s sacking, Matano is the other high-profile coach left hanging onto his job after a string of poor results from last season’s runners-ups.
Tusker have won just one of their last six games, in a run that includes four defeats, which leaves the Brewers in an unfamiliar 13th place on the table and already 10 points behind leaders Posta Rangers.
‘The Lion’, could perhaps do with a different environment and a marriage of convenience with Shabana could offer that.
In Matano, Shabana would be getting a proven winner, who has claimed four league titles, if you include the annulled 2021-22 season, and knows how to lead newly-promoted sides to glory as witnessed in 2009 when he steered debutants Sofapaka to the Premier League crown.
One more thing that Shabana could benefit from is the no-nonsense approach of the former AFC Leopards and Ulinzi Stars coach. Shabana players currently need a kick up the backside and Matano could just be what the doctor ordered.
Follow Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more news.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)