Kimani tightlipped on his next move as Ali denies Gor links

Jacob IciaChief football writer

The Immediate former interim coach of AFC Leopards Anthony’Modo’ Kimani is tightlipped on whether he’ll be joining Mathare United, if Salim Ali is to vacate the role.

Modo is in the market after calling time on his Leopards dugout and has been heavily linked with a move to his former club.

At the same time Ali, who’s been linked with Gor Mahia has poured cold water on the reports.

Kimani says he is now “concentrating with family matters” before exploring the next opportunities.

The youthful coach has attracted huge admiration locally for his charisma exhibited while coaching Leopards since last season, his abrupt resignation immediately after the arrival of new head coach Patrick Aussems prompting the idea he was sure of his next stop.

As a former Mathare defender and Leopards skipper, Kimani is highly respected in coaching circles. Within a short time he’s cut his teeth as one of the promising tacticians and will not be short of suitors.

His tactics, game analysis and ability to get the best of demotivated players has also not gone unnoticed.

 Ali, on his part, dismissed links with Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, saying no such talks are currently taking place but was magnanimous to admit that discussions took place though he did not give the specifics.

The number two coaching role at Gor is vacant following the exit of  Patrick Odhiambo who left  alongside former head coach Roberto Oliveira in January 2021.

“It’s true there was a talk in that direction but for now I’m at Mathare United, anything else is just a rumour,” said Ali.

Gor head coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto has been working without an assistant since taking over last month, with the management appearing to have slowed down in the search for one.

“We hear Patrick (Odhiambo) has joined another club, yet he claims to be with us still. We cannot wait for him so we are already looking for a replacement,” said Gor chairman in mid-January, just before Odhiambo was confirmed as the Kakamega Homeboyz assistant coach.

It is then that Ali’s links with Gor begun, with former Posta Rangers coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo’s name featuring in the talks prominently even before parting ways with the mailmen.

While Ali is resolute about his place with the 2008 Kenyan champions, Omollo recently told Citizen Digital he would grab a chance to work under Pinto if he was offered the opportunity. In January, he was the man in the driving seat during the CAF Champions League matches (eliminating APR of Rwanda before being knocked out by Algeria’s CR Belouizdad) while still coaching Posta.

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AFC Leopards GOR MAHIA Salim Ali Anthony Kimani

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