KCB Head Coach Ouna: We Are In The SPL To Stay
21st November 2018
Tactacian who was relegated with Wazito last season outlines top 10 finish ambitions for promoted Bankers who have signed 13 new players
- KCB finished second in the 2018 National Super League (NSL) behind Western Stima FC to return to the top flight since their relegation in 2015 with Ouna maintaining they are not in the SPL to just hang on to the competition
- Since taking charge mid last month, Ouna has been busy in the transfer market, completing the signings of players from around the East African region in a bid to establish the Bankers as a force in the competition
- Their star signing has been Tanzanian goal keeper, Peter Manyika, who excelled for Singida United FC at the 2018 SportPesa Cup at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru where his team won bronze
NAIROBI, Kenya- Promoted SportPesa Premier League side KCB FC head coach, Frank Ouna, is revving the bankers for a top half finish in the new season as the team unveiled 13 new faces to cash in on their ambitions.
KCB finished second in the 2018 National Super League (NSL) behind Western Stima FC to return to the top flight since their relegation in 2015 with Ouna maintaining they are not in the SPL to just hang on to the competition.
Ouma signed a two-year deal and will work with his assistant Elvis Ayany who navigated the team to promotion after KCB parted ways with former national under 20 boss, John Kamau, in the homestretch of the NSL campaign.
The stain of relegation with last season’s SPL new comers, Wazito FC notwithstanding, Ouna believes he has the credentials to match the glowing ambitions of his new club.
“It’s a big honour to be part of the KCB family and this will counts as the biggest task I will have undertaken as a head coach. We are looking forward to a fruitful season
“Last year I had a good experience, people might look at it negatively with Wazito but I look at it positively in terms of what I picked from a very turbulent season,” the head coach who was previously part of the coaching set up at local giants- champions Gor Mahia FC and Sofapaka FC maintained.
“Therefore, I know what it takes to survive in this league. Previously, I have been at Gor and Sofapaka and I know what it takes to win this league.
“We need to find a balance in remaining this league not just, but in the top half. The main objective is to finish in a respectable position that reflects the ambition of the bank,” Ouna emphasised.
Star signing
Since taking charge mid last month, Ouna has been busy in the transfer market, completing the signings of players from around the East African region in a bid to establish the Bankers as a force in the competition.
Their star signing has been Tanzanian goal keeper, Peter Manyika, who excelled for Singida United FC at the 2018 SportPesa Cup at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru where his team won bronze.
Rwanda top centre backs Tubane Jemus and Mugabo Gabriel, Burundi striker Hemedy Murubose and forward Jamal Mwalumbeko also from Tanzania are others who have joined the KCB revolution.
The club has also raided local rivals and left with Joseph Okoth (Bandari FC), Badi Baraka (Thika), Michael Mutinda (Sofapaka), Bernard Mangoli (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Eston Esiye (Kibera Black Stars FC), Nichodemus Onyango and Clinton Kisiavuki (Mount Kenya FC) as well as Benson Amianda (Ushuru FC).
KCB will use the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos as their home ground for the new season.
Apart from Ouna and Ayany, the rest of the returning SPL side’s technical bench has former AFC Leopards SC head coach, Ezekiel Akwana as the second assistant, Michael Oyando (trainer), Alex Mwangi (goalkeeping coach), Marcel Oile Freedom (strength and conditioning coach) and Collins Kiama (physio).
KCB Group HR Director and the club’s patron Paul Russo said the sweeping changes are geared towards making the Bankers a formidable team.
“Congratulations are in order to the boys on returning to top flight football, we are now gearing up for the new season and we are declaring our intent of challenging for top honours”, added Russo.
The team’s management comprises of Russo as the patron, Azu Ogola Chairman, Bramwell Mwololo (vice chairman), and Joseph Okal (Team Manager).