NAIROBI, November 19 – New World Hope coach Oliver Page wants his team to play an exciting brand of football when he takes over next season.
Speaking after he was unveiled at the club’s home ground in Kawangware, Page said that he will set out on moulding the soon to be Nairobi City Stars into a strong team with championship credentials.
“My target is to play good and attractive football and to do everything as a team because I believe when we work together we can achieve good results,” said Page.
Page who is a UEFA accredited coach and a pastor said that he took up his new role to fulfill both individual and social objectives.
“The objective of Nairobi City Stars is to play professional football and serve the community spiritually which brings my two strengths together and I’m glad to have gotten this opportunity,” said the 37 year old tactician.
Outgoing coach Bobby Ogolla said that he enjoyed his role as head coach and backed Page to continue the club’s development.
“I know in every restructuring process there must be displacements but I believe I’m leaving Hope at a stage where whoever is coming in will take hope to another level,” said Ogolla.
“Looking at the new coach’s credentials, Hope should be able to do well in the near future,” he added.
World Hope secretary general Peter Jabuya paid tribute to Ogolla for the season he spent at the club and that his departure was in the club’s interests.
“We are not relieving Bob because of any wrong doing. I want to make it clear that this is just part of restructuring,” said Jabuya.
“Bob has nutured most of our players. If you look at our players people said that they were amateurs but they have proved that they can play in the premier league,” said Jabuya.
Hope are currently seventh in the Kenya Premier League (KPL) and will conclude this season’s campaign when they face Gor Mahia at Hope Centre on Saturday.
Page’s appointment continued a hectic month during which World Hope was taken over by Ambassadors in Sports (AIS Kenya) last month.
He gave up playing to become a coach and pastor and started work on his licenses in 2001. He studied theology at the International Bible Training Institute, England in 1994 before becoming a Pastor in May ’99.
Page has coached Sportfreunded Siegen U-23 and VFL Hamm, and received further practical training with Werder Bremen (German Champions 2004).
