Ushuru forward Dennis Wafula chases down Mathare United defender Robinson Kamura.PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 26 – Mathare United defender Robinson Kamura is tinkering on the possibility of missing out on a starting berth at the team with head coach Francis Kimanzi saying he is not ready to work with players who lack character.
The former Harambee Stars Under-23 captain was conspicuously missing in Mathare’s Sunday squad that played against Posta Rangers with his place taken by 18-year old Andrew Juma who put in a superb show, earning praises from the coach.
When asked of Kamura’s exclusion, the highly trained Kimanzi said:
“I don’t know his problem. I only want to work with the ones available here. I want players with mentality not players who only want to be on the pitch, but players who want to be on the pitch because of a certain character. I want committed players. I want characters who are hungry and want to do something for their future.”
Kamura has been a key figure in the Mathare team since returning from a three-month training stint in Norway, but with Juma’s performance over the weekend and the apparent fall out with Kimanzi, his tenure might be in danger.
Mathare United head coach Francis Kimanzi having a pep talk with his charges. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.
Meanwhile, Kimanzi says he is contended with the performance of his side thus far in the season, but will be pushing for a top half finish to give his team an opportunity of playing in the KPL Top Eight tourney next season.
The Slum Boys are currently placed 5th on the Kenyan Premier League standings with 38 points and in the final five games of the season, Kimanzi has urged his charges to press on for that desirable finish.
“This season, we have been fighting to achieve something and looking back, we have achieved a lot. Finishing in the top eight is important because it will add more game time to the team and give players another opportunity to showcase what they can do,” Kimanzi offered.
With five games to go, Mathare have eclipsed by two points what they amassed at the end of 30 games last season and equaled what they achieved in 2013. Kimanzi believes if they can maintain the same drive, getting a bigger points haul will not be a far-fetched target.
