No player mutiny in camp, diplomatic Baraza declares

Tusker’s assistant coach, the lanky Francis Baraza, has come out guns blazing dismissing claims that a mutiny by players was the chief reason for the suspension of head coach George ‘Best’ Nsimbe.

Baraza took over the hot-seat at the brewers’ dugout on interim basis and has so far masterminded twin wins – a 4-0 rout of Muhoroni Youth and Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Namkuamtt in the absence of his boss.

For Baraza, an old hand in the trade, it seems the transition has been seamless, but even as he put up a robust defence of his players, perhaps aimed at holding his house together as the league heads towards the homestretch, a majority of the football stakeholders belief that the senior ranks in the dressing room could have played a part.

The brewers, skippered by the sober minded James Situma have seemed easy in the absence of the Ugandan, and the camaraderie on the pitch has not gone unnoticed.

But despite the furore and the air of unpredictability, Baraza has remained diplomatic.

“I won’t delve into controversies because I know the job of my players is to play football and nothing else. My job and that of the technical bench is to coach,” Baraza told Citizen Digital.

The former Chemelil Sugar tactician was coy when quizzed whether he was auditioning for the job on a permanent basis, saying his prime focus is ensuring the brewers achieve the highest finish possible at the close of the season.

“If you look at the log it’s very tight because the points difference are close. Those who know me well know what I can do; it’s never trial and error for me and I’ll leave it at that,” Baraza, who guided Chemelil to fifth finish last term stated.

As much effort he puts in quelling the situation, the brewers playing unit have severally been accused on working behind the scenes to have their coaches kicked out whenever the relationship turns sour.

Two years ago, it was claimed that Francis Kimanzi exit from the Ruraka based side was orchestrated by influential voices in the dressing room.

As to whether Baraza holds the side together and claims the job on permanent remains to be seen.