Western Stima's new head coach Richard Makumbi. [Photo/kpl.co.ke]
Relegation battling Western Stima have made changes to their technical bench appointing Ugandan Richard Makumbi as head coach in a two-year deal.
Makumbi, who has been given the free hand to appoint an assistant, takes over from veteran Henry Omino who moves to the position of Technical Director, while club deputy coach Patrick Odhiambo has been off loaded.
Stima chairman Laban Jobita told kpl.co.ke that due to the club’s poor run this season, the technical bench reshuffle was necessary to steady the rocky club now facing the axe from the top flight league.
“It was evident that we needed to make changes. The club’s performance hasn’t been good and the position we are in at the moment is very dangerous. Makumbi is our new coach and we have asked him to appoint anybody he thinks can assist him in his duties, but Omino will also be there to help him adjust in his new role,” Jobita said.
He added: “Coaching is not an easy job but I know that the fresh ideas that Makumbi will bring, when coupled with the experience of Omino, can help achieve our objective of staying afloat.”
Makumbi’s confirmation as coach of the Kakamega-based team came hours after Stima settled for a barren home draw with Kakamega Homeboyz in Kisumu which left them just one point away from the red zone.
Makumbi, the former Mbarara FC coach will tackle his first assignment this Sunday against Sony Sugar at their Moi Stadium home in Kisumu.
The more daunting job however will be to ensure that the team wins at least six matches out of the remaining 10 to guarantee them survival in the Premiership.
Stima, currently placed 16th on the log, have flirted with relegation all season long, and were occupants of the league’s bottom position for long periods of the first leg.
Their poor performance has been attributed to the exodus of key players at the end of last season such as defender Dennis Sikhayi, Kenneth Muguna, Levis Opiyo and Joash Onyango.