Struggling Tusker sack coach Kimanzi
After months of struggling to hold his dressing room coupled with dismal performances in the SportPesa Premier League and GOtv Shield, coach Francis Kimanzi has been relieved of his duties by league giants Tusker.
In an interview with Nairobi News on Wednesday, club chairman James Musyoki confirmed Kimanzi’s departure from the 10-time league champions.
However, sources within the team have revealed that Kimanzi was forced out in the wake of an embarrassing loss to Nzoia Sugar last weekend in a round of 16 of the GOtv Shield match.
The brewers were bundled out 8-7 on post-match penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time.
“He (Kimanzi) has been working very hard and not getting the results. So he has agreed to leave the club,” Musyoki said.
“The coach may have felt let down by three or four players,” he added without elaborating.
KIMANZI’S REPLACEMENT
The former Harambee Stars coach took charge of the team at the beginning of last season on a two-year contract to replace veteran tactician Robert Matano, now with Ulinzi Stars.
According Musyoki, Kimanzi’s assistant Leonard Odipo will take charge of the team until the end of the season.
Odipo will be thrust into the deep end on Saturday when the brewers tackle Gor Mahia in a KPL Top 8 first leg semi-final.
Earlier in the day, Kimanzi attended the team’s training session in Ruaraka and after the work out, he assembled the players to inform that he was leaving the club.
In June this year, Kimanzi dropped key players in the team including Aboud Omar, Ismail Dunga, Athman Buki and Luke Ochieng in a purge at aimed at stemming the team’s downward spiral as well as stamping his authority in the dressing room. However, the move failed yield the desired results.
The club is currently at position six on the league standings with 38 points from 27 matches, 28 points adrift off champions-elect Gor Mahia.
Former Sofapaka coach, Ugandan, Sam Timbe and unsettled AFC Leopards coach Zdravko Logarusic are tipped to be among the leading candidates for the vacant job at the club next term.
