Muluya, Mwalala Battle To Crown Gripping SportPesa Cup Climax
26th January 2019
Young Kenyan coaches outsmarted experienced and highly paid foreign bosses to guide Sharks and Bandari to a high-stakes final in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania to boost already rich credentials
- When the stellar cast of the third edition of the eight-team knockout tournament was assembled, few thought the two young Kenyan coaches would be the men to lead out their teams- Kariobangi Sharks FC and Bandari FC- out to the imposing National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam to battle for the ultimate prize
- Winning the trophy would be a huge achievement for the Bandari boss who is only 35, having turned to coaching after a bad injury ended his playing career prematurely at 28 and in his prime
- The younger Muluya, 32, is another rising coach who unlike his opposite number did not enjoy a decorated playing career, instead possessing a passion of coaching from his youth
DAR-ES-SALAAM, Tanzania- William ‘Kanu’ Muluya and Bernard Mwalala will depart Tanzania having added flying credentials to their expanding head coach CVs whether either man wins or loses the high-stakes 2019 SportPesa Cup final on Sunday.
When the stellar cast of the third edition of the eight-team knockout tournament was assembled, few thought the two young Kenyan coaches would be the men to lead out their teams- Kariobangi Sharks FC and Bandari FC- out to the imposing National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam to battle for the ultimate prize.
However, their run to the final is a ringing endorsement of a new generation of budding local coaches itching to get a stab at managing regional giants.
Highly paid and experienced foreign coaches in the 2019 SP Cup, Hassan Oktay (Turkey/Gor Mahia FC), Marko Vesiljevic (AFC Leopards SC) and Dragan Popadic (Singida United FC) both from Serbia, Patrick Aussems (Belgium/Simba SC) and Mwinyi Zahera (DR Congo/Yanga SC) were no match for the dynamic Kenyan duo.
MUST READ: The 2019 SportPesa Cup: 10 Things You Should Know
The success of Muluya and Mwalala in the SP Cup has served notice of their rich talent across East Africa and beyond and it would be no surprise if regional giants such as Gor and Leopards from Kenya or Yanga and Simba of Tanzania open their chequebooks to snap the duo in the near future.
Sharks and Bandari operate with a fraction of the budgets available to their big rivals but in the past two SportPesa Premier League (SPL) seasons, Muluya and Mwalala have established them as forces to be reckoned with.
Keenly followed
That is why the first meeting between them at a major final will be keenly followed by chairmen of big clubs across the region and on Sunday, both men know they will be auditioning their abilities to their biggest ever audience.
The game that on paper is too close to call will be beamed live across pan Africa presenting the Sharks and Bandari bosses a grand platform to showcase their genius.
MUST READ: Sharks, Bandari Promise Cracking SportPesa Cup Final
“The best thing is that there are two Kenyan teams playing a final in another country. It will be a tough match and I know each team will want to have the accolades to take home.
“I believe that whomever prepares well and I want to go back and prepare well, I will carry the day,” Muluya told the press following their tense 6-5 victory on penalties against the battling Mbao FC on Friday.
He refused to be drawn to thoughts of hosting English Premier League side Everton FC, a golden chance that comes with winning the SP Cup besides USD30,000 and the gleaming trophy.
“You cannot count your chicks before they hatch. We are waiting for the 90 minutes to end and I will think about Everton later,” the 2018 SportPesa Shield domestic cup winner added.
“We worked hard from the first to the last minute. Our plan was not to let them (Simba) play and at the end of it we won. It was my wish from the start for my boys to get the experience of playing a giant like Simba or Yanga.
“We did not go out to defend against Simba, when you play such a team, you need to press and we won. My players have huge desire to win this tournament, I told them this tournament is a shortcut to get noticed in Europe and that is why they gave their all,” Mwalala offered.
MUST READ: Kenya's SportPesa Cup Dominance 'Hurts' Tanzanian Pride
Huge achievement
Winning the trophy would be a huge achievement for the Bandari boss who is only 34, having turned to coaching after a bad injury ended his playing career prematurely at 28 and in his prime.
Respected American-owned global sports media outlet, ESPN, has already marked the man who joined the Dockers mid last season from SPL rivals, Nzoia Sugar FC as a probable African coaching star.
In 2011 and then playing for Tanzanian side Coastal Union FC, Mwalala’s career came to an abrupt end when he raptured his knee, opting to retire instead of facing the knife.
An explosive striker with excellent finishing instincts, Mwalala's 12-year playing career included stints in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malaysia and Oman.
Here, he made his name when he blazed the scoring charts to win two Tanzania Premier League title with Yanga, earning hero status with the knack to score sworn enemies Simba in the Dar derby.
Having led Nzoia to the Kenyan second division title in 2016, where they lost only one game the whole campaign- incidentally to Muluya's Sharks on the final day of the season- Mwalala was lured to Bandari last year as the club sought to get most of their young squad.
MUST READ: Sharks Edge Shootout To Set All-Kenyan SportPesa Cup Decider
The move paid instant dividends as the Dockers from the Coastal city of Mombasa shot up to finish runner-ups to record 17-time domestic winners Gor in the SPL with an expansive style of play and a dogged defence.
Domestic champions
Victory over the domestic champions that handed them a first domestic defeat of the campaign last term showed Mwalala’s team does not fear mixing it up with the big boys and it showed when they came from behind to claim the scalp of Simba.
The younger Muluya, 32, is another rising coach who unlike his opposite number did not enjoy a decorated playing career, instead possessing a passion of coaching from his youth.
However, he is also proving to be a hit with young players having led Sharks from the second division in 2016 to win a first trophy last year when they lifted the SportPesa Shield.
MUST READ: Bandari Recover To Sink Simba, Punch SportPesa Cup Final Ticket
Having played second fiddle to Mwalala in the 2016 second-tier National Super League, Muluya guided the Nairobi-based outfit to a dizzying third finish on their SPL debut last season.
A former team manager of current SPL log leaders Mathare United FC where he learned his football trade at the talent factory that is the slum boys, Muluya went on to manage the national Under 20 team before succeeding Michael Amenga as Sharks boss as their promotion push almost unravelled.
At Mathare, he also served as an assistant to head coaches Stanley Okumbi and current boss Francis Kimanzi.
Following his appointment at Sharks, an unbeaten run of 21 games and a third place finish in the domestic cup of 2016 was crowned with victory over Nzoia on final day to deliver his team to the SPL promised land.
Muluya lost his first three games in the top flight as people started writing off the chances of survival but having stiffened his defence, Sharks beat Mwalala’s Nzoia again 2-0 to register their first victory.
Powered up
From then on, his team powered up the table to finish third and reach the final of the Shield where they were beaten 0-2 by AFC Leopards.
MUST READ: Simba Cage Leopards, Book Bandari SportPesa Cup Semi Date
Nicknamed ‘Kanu’ after the famed Nigeria Super Eagles and Arsenal retired star, Muluya led Sharks on their first ever continental football campaign in the CAF Confederations Cup last December.
An astonishing 9-1 victory on aggregate over hapless Djibouti side Arta/Solar7 in the preliminary phase, Sharks bowed out in the first round with a narrow 1-2 loss against former African champions and Ghana giants Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC.
With both teams looking for only a second trophy in their histories, Bandari having won the 2015 Shield, the 2019 SP Cup final will be much more than a football game. It will be a contest between two men who have a big coaching future ahead of them.
MUST READ: Sharks Sink Teeth To Topple Yanga Out SportPesa Cup
TALE OF THE 2019 SP CUP COACHING TAPE
Bernard Mwalala
Date of Birth: October 10, 1984 (34 years)
Nationality: Kenya
Current club: Bandari
Current position: Head coach
Number of international caps: 8
First cap vs Uganda:15/03/2003
William Muluya
Date of Birth: November, 1986 (32 years)
Nationality: Kenya
Current club: K. Sharks
Current position: Head coach
Number of international caps: 0