Bandari FC coach Ken Odhiambo (Photo/ citizentv.co.ke)
New Bandari FC coach Ken Odhiambo is facing a daunting task to revive the KPL side which has struggled for the past two seasons.
Odhiambo was hired to take over from Paul Nkata who was fired by the club last December after failing to meet the expectations of the club. The tactician had joined the Mombasa-based side in January 2017, barely one month after leading Tusker FC to domestic double in his only season at the Ruaraka-based side. He was however overwhelmed by the Bandari job as he only managed to settle for the 10th position with just 43 points. But will the new tactician finally prove his worth?
Odhiambo is not a stranger in Kenyan football having previously coached Nairobi City Stars and Gor Mahia. Besides that, the former Kenya international served as assistant coach for the Kenya National Team Haranbee Stars. He was however fired when the team failed to qualify for African Cup of Nations. In 2016, he was appointed interim Bandari FC coach when Twahir Muhiddin was fired.
But coaching Bandari is not an easy task. The role comes with a lot of expectations and Odhiambo should be prepared for any eventualit . His immediate task should be to instill winning mentality to the side that struggled for form last season. Besides that, he will have to fix the side's misfiring striking line. Bandari scored just 36 goals last season, an average of one goal per match.
Further, the team's other challenge has been its porous defense that shipped in many goals last season. The side should make a good signing to support Felly Mulumba at the heart of defence.
Bandari's first game of the 2018 season will be against rejuvenated Sofapaka. And for Odhiambo, it will be the right time for him to prove that he is the right man for the job.