We are not sabotaging you, elite bosses tell Okumbi

The chairman of elite local football coaches and Ulinzi Stars tactician, Robert Matano and his Bandari FC counterpart, Twahir Muhiddin have dismissed Stanley Okumbi’s claims that top SportPesa Premier League bosses are sabotaging his tenure as Harambee Stars first coach.

Following Stars’ 1-0 defeat to Guinea Bissau at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday that was marred by fan violence, Okumbi claimed he believed part of the hooliganism witnessed was orchestrated by ‘a group of elite coaches’ who think they were more qualified for his new role.

However, the two bosses were quick to clear their organisation saying that the so-called group of elite coaches’ responsibilities include that of supporting each other on their respective duties adding that they feel offended by Okumbi’s decision to make the allegations public with unsubstantiated claims.

“Supporting each other in our duties is what defines our relationship as local coaches. We have nothing against Okumbi and it is wrong for him to assert that we are busy pulling in the opposite direction,” said veteran title winning coach Matano.

The ‘Lion’ as he is known however, refused to comment on Okumbi’s team selection that drew intense scrutiny from the public with the inclusion of Kariobangi Sharks duo Patillah Omoto and Ovella Ochieng the center of the controversy.

“The FKF gives the Stars coach the mandate of selecting the squad so am not going to comment on that. However according to me, Wednesday’s match away at Guinea Bissau was a must win and I think the defeat meant that mentally we were not in the capacity to turn things around in our favour at home,” he alluded.

Muhiddin warned that such allegations should be discouraged as they could lead to either parties heading to court while lauding the former Mathare United and Kariobangi Sharks coaching abilities saying he believes he is capable of handling the national team.

“Okumbi is youthful but is qualified. He acquired a top coaching certificate and at the time of his selection he had no contract with a club nationally so I think it was fair. In the past we have seen coaches manage both the national team and their respective clubs but his is not one of those cases,” stated the Bandari FC tactician.

“Think about Jose Mourinho during his recent stint with Chelsea FC or Brendan Rodgers before his Liverpool axe. We all know they are world class coaches but somehow things seemed not to work for them. Sometimes all coaches need is time to implement their plan especially if the idea is in building a team for the future,” he added suggesting that Okumbi needs more time before any meaningful judgement of his ability can be made.

Under Okumbi, Stars have lost all of their last three matches (two competitive and one friendly against Posta Rangers) and never found the back of the net on all three occasions.