Wazito FC head coach Boniface Ambani on the bench during a past Kenyan Premier League match. PHOTO/Wazito FC/Twitter
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 20 – In a short statement on their website on Monday morning, Wazito FC confirmed that head coach Fred Ambani and technical director Stanley Okumbi were dismissed ‘on mutual agreement’, affirming something that had been inevitable for a while.
Ambani who helped guide Wazito back to the Premier League was suspended for Saturday’s 4-2 home defeat against Kakamega Homeboyz due to the red card he received in the previous match against Mathare United.
Prior to this, multiple reliable reports indicate that Ambani had come to blows with the technical director after training on Friday, the boiling point of what had been a tense relationship finally blowing up.
Sources further intimate that the two had disagreed on the team’s starting team for the trip to Machakos for the Kakamega game, Ambani feeling undermined by Okumbi who had been away with the Harambee Stars Under-20 team in Uganda.
This was not just the first time there was a disagreement on the personnel to play in games and the power struggle between the two being a constant headache.
And now, Wazito whose owner has channeled millions to its running have only won one of their first six games of the campaign, and the change in technical bench was always coming.
On Twitter on Monday afternoon, Ricardo Badoer, the Wazito FC owner said that ‘a new coach would be named in a day or two’ and went on to warn the players they would be next on the exit door if they don’t shape up.
-Two heads
With the case of two heads in one institution solved, assistant coach Hamisi Mohammed will take charge on interim basis before the club names a new boss.
Meanwhile, while the moneyed Wazito continue to struggle getting results on the pitch, Chemelil and Sony Sugar both handed weekend walk overs due to their current financial status.
The teams’ parent sponsors are not doing well and this has gravely affected the operations of the teams as well. Chemelil failed to travel to Mombasa thus handing Bandari three free points while Sony did not travel to Machakos to face Tusker.
Sony have given their second walkover of the season and if they fail to show up for their home tie against Kisumu All Stars on Saturday will be relegated from the Premier League.
-Not playing
Chairman Gabriel Otiende has insisted they will only get back to the pitch once their financial status improved. They have now gone for three weeks without training.
Elsewhere, Gor Mahia retained their hold on top spot with a last gasp winner over Kariobangi Sharks in Nakuru. Ghanaian Francis Afriyie tapped home a goal in added time to ensure K’Ogalo retained their 100pc start to the season.
Courtesy of three free points from Sony, Tusker moved to second with 13 points, two shy of K’Ogalo but with one match more played.
AFC Leopards dropped to third in the standings after coming from behind to force a 1-1 draw with Western Stima in Machakos, but Ingwe still remain within striking range as they are on 11 points, four off the leaders.
