Sacked FKF-PL coaches top row: Tomas Trucha (AFC Leopards), Anthony Kimani (Kenya Police), Salim Babu (Kenya Police) Bottom row: Leonardo Neiva (Gor Mahia), Juma Abdallah (Murang’a Seal), Ken Kenyatta (Kakamega Homeboyz) and Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo (Shabana).
The 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) is proving to be a tough work environment for coaches, as many get sacked ostensibly because of poor performance.
After just three months into the season and with 11 rounds of matches played, six clubs have already parted ways with their coach.
At this trend, this season could end up having one of the highest turnover in recent history.
Out are Brazilian Leonardo Neiva (Gor Mahia), Czech Republic’s Tomas Trucha (AFC Leopards), Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo (Shabana), Ken Kenyatta (Kakamega Homeboyz), Salim Babu and Anthony “Modo” Kimani (Kenya Police), and Juma Abdallah (Murang’a Seal).
Are the clubs asking too much of their coaches?
Gor Mahia vice chairman Francis Wasuna on Wednesday said that they parted ways with Neiva on November 13 due to poor performance.
“We had included a termination clause in his contracts that included performance, breach of contract and falling out with players or other members of the technical bench. But for this case it was because of poor performance,” said Wasuna.
The Brazilian failed to achieve his target of guiding Gor to the group stage of CAF Champions League after they were eliminated in the second preliminary round following a 6-0 aggregate loss to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The 21-time Kenyan champions had a slow start to this season’s FKF-PL, securing just two wins in their opening seven matches under Neiva.
Leopards dismissed Trucha last Friday after the team went five matches without a win, registering two draws and three losses.
He had also fallen out with Ingwe’s supporters due to poor performances.
Nation Sport understands that Ingwe’s management had grown impatient with the Czech who was supposed to guide the team to their first FKF-PL title since 1998.
Shabana parted ways with Omollo last month after the team suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Sofapaka on October 23. The former Harambee Stars player had failed to record a win in his opening four matches -- two draws and two losses, to the chagrin of the club’s vocal fans.
Omollo was in charge last season when “Glamour Boys” survived relegation narrowly, finishing 14th with 38 points.
Police, lying 13th on the table, parted ways with Babu and Kimani on November 18 and replaced them with Burundian Etienne Ndayiragije.
Kenyatta was the first coaching casualty of the season when Homeboyz fired him in October. The Kakamega-based side had failed to register victory in their first five matches – losing thrice and drawing twice.
Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula said: “It was obvious why we made the changes. Our results were not improving and that was not the expectation when we hired him.”
Kenyatta was replaced by former Kenya international Francis Baraza on a six-month contract. Juma was the latest casualty as he exited Seal on Tuesday.
With three wins, three draws and five losses, the Murang’a-based side are 12th with 12 points.
Coaches Bernard Kawinzi (Rangers), Jackline Juma (Talanta), Nicholas Muyoti (City Stars), Anthony Akhulia (Bidco United) and Danson Nyaudo (Ulinzi Stars) are under pressure as their teams have continued to register poor performances.
Will they survive this season?
