George Nsimbe's fate sealed at Ruaraka

Tusker coach George Nsimbe looks on during their SportPesa Premier League match against Kariobangi Sharks at Ruaraka ground on October 11, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • Is Nsimbe going to be allowed to take charge of the team or is he possibly facing the axe?

Is managing Tusker a season after winning the league a doomed role?

The deposed SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions on Tuesday suspended head coach George ‘Best’ Nsimbe over comments he made in the media touching on the age of his players.

Nsimbe said the club had “too many old players” and that they needed younger players to mount a strong title challenge next year. The comments did not go well with some of the players.

“We had a long discussion with him on Monday and it was his suggestion that he steps aside as we resolve the issue. The players didn’t take the alleged comments lightly that’s why we agreed to pacify the situation so that it doesn’t create so many rifts in the team,” chairman Dan Aduda told Nation Sport.

But is Nsimbe on his way out of club after a massively underwhelming season with the brewers?

Despite clinching a double in 2016, Ugandan Paul Nkata quit the club with a year remaining on his contract. Nkata was reportedly "forced out” due to lack of cooperation from the management, and has since joined Bandari.

Nsimbe, a title winning coach with both Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) and Tanzanian side Azam, was tasked with guiding the champions to the group stage of the Caf Champions League but bowed out in the preliminaries.

He also failed to defend the league and GOtv Shield titles won after Tusker were knocked out of the domestic cup competition by second tier side Vihiga United on August 20. A string of poor performances in the second leg have seen the brewers fall down the standings, and now runaway leaders Gor Mahia need a point to clinch their unprecedented 16t title.

“We shall review his performance at the end of the season. This is a normal practice in every club even to the players and other employees. For the moment Baraza (Francis) and Odipo (Leonard) will lead the club in the remaining assignments,” added Aduda on Wednesday in reference to the coach’s future.

Nsimbe has so far been a spectator in the club’s last two league assignments – 4-0 and 1-0 wins over Muhoroni Youth (Sunday) and Nakumatt (Wednesday).

But is Nsimbe going to be allowed to take charge of the team or is he possibly facing the axe?

Nation Sporttakes a look at how the club has dealt with coaches in the recent past:

In 2015, then coach Francis Kimanzi was asked to "step aside" owing to dismal performances both in the league and the GOtv Shield. Tusker had been eliminated by Nzoia Sugar, then in the second tier, in the round of 16 and failed to defend the Top Eight tourney before the two parties agreed to part ways.

Club chairman at the time James Musyoki confirmed the coach had agreed to step aside five games to the end of the season and later hired Nkata from Muhoroni Youth.

Odipo took charge on an interim basis until the end of the season.

“We will discuss about a new coach or if Kimanzi goes on after the season ends. He is still with the team and has only stepped aside,” Musyoki said at the time.

MATANO

In 2013, Robert Matano was sacked for failing to defend the title the brewers won back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. Matano joined Tusker midway through 2012 season, replacing the sacked Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo, and guided the club to the league title.

He failed to repeat the feat in 2013 only winning the Top 8 before finishing a disappointing fifth position in the league, 18 points behind champions Gor Mahia. His contract was not renewed and Kimanzi was brought in as his replacement.

'PAMZO' SACKED

In mid-2012, despite guiding the side to the 2011 title, Tusker fired Omollo for non-performance.

Omollo was sacked after the side lost 1-0 to Mathare United in August 2012, a result that left them eight points off the title chase that they eventually won on the final day with an emphatic 3-0 win over Nairobi City Stars with Matano in charge.

Omollo, who was part of the Tusker side that reached the Africa Cup winners final in 1994, was appointed in November 2010 after a stint with Mahakama.

He replaced James Nandwa, who had also been sacked for not “achieving the club’s goals”.

The recent activities at Ruaraka point towards the cycle of coaches facing the axe before their contracts expire in their second second season after winning the club major titles. Could it be a problem with the appointing authority? Or does the club simply suffer from title hangovers? I bet we shall never know.