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Sofapaka appoint Odhiambo from Bandari to replace Baraza
Batoto ba Mungu have raided the services of their new coach who has signed a two-year contract
FKF Premier League side Sofapaka have appointed Ken Odhiambo as their new head coach.
Batoto ba Mungu President Elly Kalekwa has confirmed to Goal they have handed the former Bandari FC coach a two-year contract and he will be assisted by Mike Mururi.
The coaching role at the club fell vacant on Tuesday after the club moved to fire coach John Baraza, who had only overseen three FKF Premier League matches – losing 1-0 against Bandari, and beating Western Stima 3-1 before losing 2-1 against AFC Leopards.
“We have now settled for Odhiambo to handle the team and he has already joined us on a two-year contract,” Kalekwa told Goal on Thursday. “He has already reported to work and will be assisted by Mike Mururi, who was the deputy to Baraza.
“We hope the new changes will spur the team to post positive results as our main target is to win the title this season, we have quality players who can do the job and that is why we feel the new bench can now work with them for better results.”
On Thursday, Baraza took his time to wish the team well.
“It’s a hard decision leaving, this has been a family to me for the years have been around,” Baraza told the club’s official website.
“From the bottom of my heart, I would like to honestly thank everyone involved with the Sofapaka family, the president, the playing unit, the CEO and the entire staff. They have really been an amazing family, I appreciate the support, the respect, the love that everyone showed me."
On the playing unit; Baraza said: “To the players kindly accord coach Odhiambo and Mururi the same and much more support so that the team can accomplish its season target.
“To the club president Kalekwa, I want to sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity and more so trusting me with the position of head coach at this great club Sofapaka.
“It’s so unfortunate that all we had planned haven’t worked out as we had agreed. I leave wishing the team the very best now and in the future.”
On Wednesday, Kalekwa revealed to Goal the reason the club decided to part ways with Baraza by stating: “I want to thank Baraza for the job he did while at the helm of Sofapaka and wish him well in his next move of heading for studies abroad.
“He has two schools to attend, one in Germany and another in Norway, and so he will choose where to go but as Sofapaka family we wish him well.”
Pressed further to explain whether he had left the team because of school or performance, Kalekwa said: “Obviously the performance has not been good [since the season kicked-off] with the kind of quality players we signed for him but for now he is heading to add more knowledge abroad.”
Odhiambo also doubles as the assistant coach of Kenya’s national team Harambee Stars and will start his reign with a match against Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday.
