- Juma takes over from Patrick Aussems who left after the expiry of his contract
- He will be assisted by Fred Ambani
- Leopards are battling a transfer embargo from FIFA
Just a few weeks after the departure of Belgian Patrick Aussems, his assistant Tom Juma has been named as the club’s new head coach, and will be assisted by former Kenyan international Fred Ambani. The latter has been without a coaching job for the past one season since leaving Wazito FC, following a change of ownership.
Aussems left the club after he failed to agree on a new contract with Ingwe, and Leopards have chosen not to go for another foreign coach, but instead trusted Juma with the job.
Juma has been at the club for almost eight years, serving in different capacities, but will now be tasked with leading the club in the coming season.
“I do not think much has changed because I have been part of this technical bench for a while now, and so it is just continuing with the work that we have been doing for all these years. The Leopards ambition every season is to win titles, and that is what we will try to do in the coming season. A season that ends without a title is regarded as a failure,” Juma said after he was announced by Leopards.
TheBelgian had been with Ingwe for the past three seasons, but did not inspire them to any silverware, and they only finished third in the FKF Cup this season after being eliminated by eventual champions Kakamega Homeboyz from the semi-finals.
Not won the league since 1998
New AFC Leopards head coach Tom Juma
Leopards have not won the league since 1998, while their last major trophy was the FKF Cup back in 2017.
But, Aussems had been battling with a lean and young squad, after Leopards were handed a transfer embargo by FIFA for failure to pay some of their former players.
And now, Aussems seems to be taking the club down that route again, as he has reportedly taken the club to FIFA again over unpaid dues, totally to almost Sh20mn.
Meanwhile, former FKF Premier League side Mathare United, which was relegated to the second tier National Super League have named experienced tactician Leonard Odipo as its new head coach, and his main task will be to guide the team back to the top tier.
New technical bench
Mathare United’s new technical bench
Mathare named a new technical bench with Geoffrey Maina and Julius Mativo named the two assistant coaches, and Elias Otieno will serve as the goalkeeping coach.
Former Muhoroni Youth FC coach James ‘Odijo’ Omondi has been tasked with leading their Youth set up.
“The main task is to get the team back into the Premier League,” Odipo said as he was unveiled at the club’s training base in Pangani on Monday.
He added; “We have a tough task before us but I wouldn’t have accepted the opportunity if I did not believe I am the right man for the job. I have a competent team to work with. They are all experienced individuals who love the club and are passionate about their duties. Time for work is now.”
Mathare, the 2008 Premier League champions suffered painful relegation after finishing 17th last season, but Odipo has vowed to quickly take them back to the top.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login