Official: Francis Kimanzi returns to Mathare United for third stint on promotion mission
28th March 2024
The Slum Boys are seeking promotion back to the top tier and are currently in second position.
- Obure confirmed that the UEFA A licensed coach agreed to return to the Slum Boys’ on his own volition.
- Kimanzi's task will be helping Mathare United to close the gap on Naivas FC which tops the National Super League with 52 points after 23 matches.
- Currently, Mathare United sit in second place on the log with 49 points.
Former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has returned to
the National Super League side Mathare United for a third stint.
Speaking to SportPesa News on Thursday, March 27, Jacktone
Obure, the club's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) confirmed the return of the
former tactician.
Obure confirmed that the UEFA A licensed coach agreed to
return to the Slum Boys’ on his own volition as he clarified that there was no
specific deal in place with the coach at the moment but his return his solely
to help his former side.
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"As a club alumni, he is back to help the team. There
are no terms or anything," the CEO stated.
"He just agreed to come and help the team since we have
a coaching vacancy," he added.
Obure pointed out that Kimanzi's task will be helping
Mathare United to close the gap on Naivas FC which tops the National Super
League with 52 points after 23 matches.
Currently, Mathare United sit in second place on the log
with 49 points.
"His main task will be helping the team secure
promotion to the FKF Premier League," Obure told SportPesa News.
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Kimanzi will be taking over from Leonard Odipo who stepped
down from his position following the team's 3-1 loss to MCF FC earlier this
month.
Odipo, who took the helm at the start of the season, has
been instrumental in steering the club to second place in the league standings.
"The club would like to confirm that a mutual decision
was reached with Leonard Odipo for him to step aside from his role as head
coach," the official announcement stated.
Assistant coach Jeff Maina was picked to stand in with the
club promising to find an alternative.
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Third Stint at
Mathare United
Kimanzi's return marks his third stint with the Slum Boys. He was first appointed to lead the side in 2008.
During that season, Kimanzi
helped Mathare clinch the top-flight title, Kenya Premier League. Kimanzi first
stint at the club run between 2008- 2012.
After several stints with the national team where he was
unceremoniously sacked in 2013 after failing to qualify for African Cup Nation,
Kimanzi coached Sofapaka and Tusker FC before returning to Mathare in 2015.
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Kimanzi stepped down again from his role in 2019 at Mathare
United to focus on his then role at the national team Harambee Stars technical
bench.
During that time, Kimanzi was on duty with the Harambee
Stars. He was Sebastien Migne’s assistant. He stepped down to help Harambee
Stars prepare for their African Nations Championship qualifier against
Tanzania.
His latest return marks his third stint at his boyhood club.
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