Mathares impeccable run culminates in coach of the month award for Kimanzi

Mathare United tactician Francis Kimanzi is the Fidelity Insurance Coach of the Month for February. A blazing start to the season saw the Dutch-trained tactician pip Gor Mahia’s Dylan Kerr for the gong in a tightly contested vote.

Kimanzi’s skills led Mathare to three victories and one draw in February, an equal record to Gor Mahia’s Kerr who lost the gong by two votes. Mathare overcame sugar-milling clubs Nzoia and Sony then dropped two points against Ulinzi Stars in a controversial match.

For his heroics, Kimanzi took home a cash prize of Sh75, 000.

Despite the Ulinzi debacle Kimanzi rallied his team to a 3-1 thrashing of a fancied Sofapaka to end the month unbeaten.

Kerr, on the other hand, led Gor Mahia to three consecutive victories over struggling Nakumatt, Zoo FC and Kariobangi Sharks then drew 0-0 with Tusker in their last league match of the month.

The ensuing vote carried out by SJAK Football Commission went Kiamanzi’s way as he scooped ten votes to Kerr’s six. Worthy of note is that Kiamanzi won the first gong of 2017 after guiding Mathare to another fine start before losing steam along the way.

The highly rated coach intends to keep the team competitive and winning this year in a bid to bag silverware at the end of season and play continental football next year.

“The team has definitely made positive steps from where we were last season and it is evident not just in our start to 2018 but the endurance we are showing,” a delighted Kimanzi said after being feted at Mathare’s training grounds in Nairobi.

“We added a bit of experience in the squad but most importantly the young players learned from last year’s games. A lot of them had little or no experience but now they look quite at home.

“They play fearlessly and implement our strategies better hence the results. The league is very competitive and long so we are just taking one game as it comes and play to win every match. It is the points gathered here and there that culminate into a season’s performance,”he added.

Kimanzi lauded youngster Cliff Nyakeya who has assumed goal scoring duties despite his inexperience. “Nyakeya has done well and we are all happy about his contribution. He is that finisher every team needs and he can only get better with time. It’s too early to say where he will be at the end of season but he is destined for bigger things.”