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- KCB Football Club has explained why it resorted to suspending its head coach Patrick Odhiambo
- The club also suspended Eric Muranda who was the fitness trainer
- Bramwel Simiyu announced on Friday, May 23 that the quartet would no longer offer their services
KCB Football Club has explained why it resorted to suspending its head coach, Patrick Odhiambo, and his assistant, Jeffer Odongo.
The club also suspended Eric Muranda, who was the fitness trainer. Club Chairman Bramwel Simiyu announced on Friday, May 23, that the quartet would no longer offer their services.
“The Club has suspended Head Coach, Patrick Odhiambo, Assistant Coach Jeffer Odongo, and Fitness Trainer Eric Muranda, effective immediately. Goalkeeping Coach Samuel Koko Okoth will assume interim responsibility for the team for the remaining two matches of the 2024/25 FKF Premier League season,” Simiyu said in a statement.
Why Did KCB Football Club Suspend Coach?
According to the KCB Football Club chairman, it suspended the four members of the technical bench to turnaround the club’s performance for the remainder of the season.’
KCB sits a distant 9th in the Kenya Premier League standings with 41 points. They have lost 11 matches out of the 32 games played so far this season.
KCB Football Club in action. Photo/KCB Football
With only two matches remaining, the team will finish eighth. Simiyu said they didn’t expect such a season.
He named goalkeeping coach Samuel Koko Okoth as the interim head coach for the rest of the 2024/2025 season.
Koko and his two assistants have had a meeting with the club’s leadership to draw a turnaround roadmap for the next season.
“We have had mutual discussions with the coach and the two assistants. We want to inject fresh impetus into the team to finish strong and prepare for the next season,” Simiyu posted on X.
He further remarked that football is an important aspect for the Kenya Commercial Bank and that they are looking for better results.
“KCB Football remains a crucial part of the KCB brand’s sporting platform. With that said, it’s imperative for us to take stock of where we are as we position ourself more strongly for the future. We have an ambition to win the league, and to sustain such a performance over the years,” the KCB Football Club chairman stated.
Slumping Performance
Fans hoped that KCB Football Club would perform better in the 2024/2025 KPL season. They finished 7th last season in what was a rather challenging season for them.
However, suspended coach Odhiambo had an even tougher season this year, losing 11 straight matches.
KCB Football Club. Photo/Capital News
Stakeholders expressed their worry over the slumping progress of the team but held on to the hope of things changing for the better.
Instead, their beloved team posted a string of losses. The club lost their last five matches, prompting action by the club’s leadership.
Nahashon Iregi, a local football fan and journalist, said that the suspension was long overdue.
“Suspending the technical bench right now is insignificant. We won’t get to the top with just two matches remaining,” Iregi noted.
He added that the club should have made the changes long before May.
“I know Simiyu and the leadership of KCB Football Club had hope of a turnaround somewhere. However, this hope got the club in a rabbit hole because there isn’t much we can get from games. Odhiamo and co should have gone home last year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Police FC are on their way to victory if they win their next two games. They are in the lead with 61 points while Tusker FC trails them with 55 points.
