King Kaka’s wife, Nana Owiti, has paid a glowing tribute to Ulinzi Starlets’ head coach Joseph Mwanzia, whose death was confirmed on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Nana, who explained how she first interacted with the Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League title-winning coach, also said she feels for the family members left behind.
“I’ve been struggling to come to terms with coach Mwanzia’s (Coach Klopp) passing. My heart aches, not just for his wife and two young children but for the entire community that loved him.
“I first met coach through my aunt, both of them founding members of Starlets. At that time, there was no single team in the KPL that had a women’s side. Ulinzi soon became that, and that’s who coach Klopp was; visionary and ahead of his time,” Nana posted on Instagram on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Mwanzia’s shining star
Mwanzia, who retired from active football in 2006 due to an injury, was a celebrated coach in the FKF WPL, given what he achieved, especially with his last team.
“I watched as he led the team from the county-level league to the top tier, undefeated, every step of the way. Under his leadership, Ulinzi Starlets won the FKF Cup three times consecutively – an unparalleled achievement. His brilliance and mastery of the game were undeniable,” she added.
Nana also gave a brief background on when Mwanzia fell ill and how she learned that the coach was hospitalised.
“Toward the end of the season (last campaign), the coach began to fall really ill, missing key matches. I vividly remember the Maafande Derby between Police Bullets and Ulinzi Starlets. The coach wasn’t on the sidelines; he was in the hospital.
“They lost 4-0, and it hurt because it wasn’t the kind of result you’d expect in such a high-stakes game. After the match, the coach called me from his hospital bed, saying, ‘Nash, I know you’re upset, but don’t worry. I’ll get you the cup. I won’t let Arsenal beat you away, and then we kill you with depression at home’,” she continued.
Nana and Mwanzia’s love of football also extended beyond the local scene, and, as she revealed, they used to clash big time because of the English Premier League teams they supported.
“We shared a playful rivalry – he was a die-hard Man U (Manchester United) fan, and I’m an Arsenal supporter. I urged him to focus on getting well, and he assured me he was doing his best,” she concluded.
