Luc Eymael has finally
been thrown out of the Ingw’e den and Harambee Stars assistant coach, James
Nandwa has taken up the hot seat. At Hope Centre, Charles ‘Korea’ Omondi too
has been sacked and replaced by former Igw’e tactician, Jan Koops, at Nairobi
City Stars. These are the latest victims of the unforgiving nature of the
Tusker Premier League. They say that a coach is as good as his last game and
this is now all too clear in the local league. But forget the changes at
Nairobi City Stars, the fuss and cameras must be at the much- hyped Igw’e den.
The 3-1 mauling at
their Mumias Sports Complex backyard by Chemelil Sugar, was the last straw that
broke the camel’s back. Prior to the Chemelil loss, the 2-all draw with their Mashemejis aka GorMahia where AFC
Leopards surrendered a 2-goal lead, followed by the 2-1 loss to Tusker at Nyayo
National Stadium, all signs were clear that the Ingw’e den was getting impatient
and heads had to roll. Then their bogey
team came calling at Mumias Sports Complex and dealt the final blow. A 3-1
bitter loss not only dimmed AFC Leopards’ chances at lifting the silverware,
but also put paid to Luc Eyamel’s tenure at the Ingw’e den. Former Kenyan international and Utalii Fc
midfielder, James Nandwa has taken up the reigns, with seven games to go. But
this development paints a grim picture of a Leopard that is slowly but surely
losing its spots and needs to go on a soul-searching sojourn.
Firstly, sacking Eymael
only worsens an already dire situation. It is interesting to note that before
this sudden dip in form, Leopards had registered four successive wins against
quality opposition in the league. Barely two years ago, Ingw’e were riding high
and coasting to KPL glory, only to slip
on some banana peels and panic set in. the then coach, Jan Koops, now at
Nairobi City Stars, was sent packing and Tom Olaba brought in. Needless to say, Olaba could not
steer the ship back to glory. History has repeated itself and the same costly
mistake is back to haunt the 12-time Kenyan champions. Even in the prestigious English
Premier League where performance is the only talking point, coaches do not come
and go mid-season. The Ing’we camp must learn to be patient, at least as their mashemejis
and take the long and enduring road to success. A coach must be given
the time to build a winning team. This is where Leopards are getting it all
wrong. At least five coaches in two seasons is the mark of a team that goes
into a trauma whenever losing games becomes the other name of football!
The Belgian trainer
recently demanded a pay rise and when he returned, his future was rendered
untenable following the departure of utility defender Jonas 'Paco' Nahimana and
midfield kingpin Peter ‘Pinchez’ Opiyo who secured moves to the USA and Oman
respectively. According to the coach, ‘Pinchez’ move was done behind his back! The
acrimonious departure of the two key-men in the Leopards team, have undoubtedly
dealt the 12-time champions serious blow to their title ambitions. But this is
neither here nor there. This is story for another day.
Secondly, the high
turn-over of coaches and players at any football club, brings with it
instability and constant changes to the playing unit in that gelling the
players and identifying a winning combination at best remains a dream. Every
coach comes with his trusted set of players and playing formations that pose a
big problem to the players as they try to gel with new players and adapt to
different formations. By the time anything close to a winning team is
identified the championship is in the homestretch. A title race already
decided. This is what AFC Leopards have perfected of late and the results have
been calamitous. My crystal ball tells me that Nandwa will too not deliver and
come season-end, he will get the boot!
Before you forget it,
Ingw’e fans must be bemoaning the high turn-over of tacticians since 2009, when
former Kenyan international, Nick Yakhama brought them from the football
oblivion that AFC Leopards had fallen into. Since his departure, the club has
had at least eight coaches, including the latest victim, Guy Eymael. All have
fallen victim to the curse of poor results.
Lastly, their bitter
rivals, K’Ogalo, must be the happiest chaps in town. Down in the lake-side city
of Kisumu, folks must be rubbing their hands in glee! You must be happy to see
your rival self-destruct and plot his way to oblivion! The Swahili say that Subira
yavuta heri, and this are the words that the Ingw’e den must be prepared
to heed, lest their sworn arch-rivals, K’Ogalo, might as well mock them forever
for their perennial failures!
www.futaa.comFor all the reasons
that might have led to the sacking of Eymael and his entire technical bench,
Leopards just lost the plot and any slim hopes of lifting the diadem have all
but gone up in smoke.
