Mathare Coach Kimanzi Grateful After Scooping Third SPL Monthly Award

22nd February 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

The former Harambee Stars coach scooped the award for his teams exceptional performance in January, to add onto the first ever award in March 2016 and another the following year

Mathare United Coach Francis Kimanzi (left) is presented with the Fidelity Insurance Coach of the Month gong by the company's Marketing Manager Nicholas Malesi at Goan institute. PHOTO/SJAK

SUMMARY

Mathare United FC coach Francis Kimanzi expressed his gratitude to the players and club after bagging his third Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK)/Fidelity Insurance coach of the month award
Kimanzi received KShs 75, 000 and a trophy engraved with his name, after edging Bandari FC’s Bernard Mwalala and Gor Mahia FC’s Hassan Oktay to emerge victorious
Mathare remained unbeaten in the month of January, winning four of their six league matches and drawing twice

NAIROBI, Kenya- Mathare United FC coach Francis Kimanzi expressed his gratitude to the players and club after bagging his third Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK)/Fidelity Insurance coach of the month award on Thursday morning.

The former Harambee Stars coach scooped the award for his teams exceptional performance in January, to add onto the first ever award in March 2016 and another the following year.

Kimanzi received KShs 75, 000 and a trophy engraved with his name, after edging Bandari FC’s Bernard Mwalala and Gor Mahia FC’s Hassan Oktay to emerge victorious.

"This is a real motivator and I have the entire club to thank for their efforts.

“From the playing unit, to management and technical staff we have worked smart and hard to achieve the results that enabled such a feat. I hope it spurs us to go even stronger so that next time my players also win," Kimanzi stated.

Mathare remained unbeaten in the month of January, winning four of their six league matches and drawing twice.

The Slum boys began the year with a 2-1 victory over Kenya Commercial Bank FC (KCB) at the Kasarani Stadium, before a one-all draw against record domestic league winners Gor at the same venue.

They got back to winning ways at the Ruaraka Stadium, beating Tusker FC 2-1 and they did not stop there as they continued with an enthralling 3-2 win over Kakamega Homeboyz FC and another 3-1 win over Vihiga United.

However, their last game of the month was a barren draw against SportPesa Cup winners Kariobangi Sharks FC. One of the most entertaining goalless games in the league so far.

"We really did well during the short preseason and that accounts for the good start. We were able to string great performances in the first ten games or so before fatigue set in.

“We want to get back on track with the next few games and go for the best possible finish," Kimanzi underlined.

The 2008 champions scored 11 goals in January and remained top of the table going into the month of February, though a recent dip in form has seen them go on a run of five games without a win, losing twice including a 4-1 bashing by Sofapaka FC.

The absence of goal scoring machine Cliff Nyakeya seems to have taken its toll on Mathare as they currently sit third on the SportPesa Premier League table with 26 points, two shy of leaders Bandari FC.