Kimanzi ditches Mathare pep talk to concentrate on national team duties
By K24 Editorial, July 26, 2019James Magayi @PeopleSports11
Long-serving Mathare United coach Francis Kimanzi has quit to concentrate on national team duties.
The highly-decorated tactician, who serves as Harambee Stars assistant coach, dispelled speculation about him joining promoted moneybags Wazito FC.
“It it is true I have resigned from Mathare United but rumours of movement to other clubs such are Wazito are untrue. I want to take a break from club coaching for a while so I will not be joining any team soon,” the Dutch-trained tactician told People Sport yesterday.
Having assisted Frenchman Sebastian Migne at Harambee Stars to secure the country’s only sixth qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where Kenya won her second ever match, Kimanzi reckons the duties at national team will hinder his stay at Mathare.
“There are a number of important fixtures lined up for the national team which fall outside FIFA calendars.
The upcoming CHAN qualifiers are an example. Next edition of CECAFA will also come mid season, December, and outside FIFA calendars for international fixtures,” he added.
“That will pull me away from club duties and the club will be disenfranchised and I don’t want that. So I spoke to my chairman and came to this conclusion. For any team to perform at their optimum, concentration from the playing unit and technical bench must be there.
At the moment, I could not guarantee that for Mathare,” the 2008 Premier League winner with Mathare said.
His long-serving assistant and right-hand man Salim Ali is poised to take charge of the slum boys after honing his skills through the MYSA programmes under Kimanzi.
Should Mathare confirm him, Salim will enjoy his second spell as a head coach of a top-flight club, having previously worked at Ulinzi Stars.
With the league just about one month away, Mathare, who value continuity, are likely to confirm Ali. The club has only had five coaches in the last 15 years.