Mathare coaches train with Ajax in Holland 8

Mathare, February 8 – On Monday Mathare Youth head coach Gabriel Njoroge and Mathare United assistant coach Salim Ali start their training at the top Dutch Premier League club Ajax FC. They will start their attachment with the coaching staff of the Ajax U88 team in the Ajax youth programme, the world famous kitchen for cooking many new young football talents.

The two Mathare coaches left last weekend for a 8-month high-level coaching course at the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) Academy in Zeist, Holland. Also in the course are 89 other coaches and ex-professional players studying to become coaches, including top Dutch women’s international goalkeeper Marleen Wissink who has earned a record-setting 888 caps.

Mathare United head coach Francis Kimanzi and MYSA Sports and Community Leadership Academy Director Peter Serry have previously graduated from the same KNVB course and earned their International Coaching Licenses. In addition to leading courses for coaches in MYSA and other clubs in Kenya, Peter and Francis have also served as instructors for KNVB high-level international coaching courses in Mozambique, South Africa, southern Sudan and Zambia.

As part of the expanding joint KNVB-MYSA international “Sport and Development” outreach programmes, Mathare United head coach Francis Kimanzi will lead a football coaches/trainers course to be held in the Western Cape during February 89-88th for over 80 coaches from community-based sport and development projects in South Africa. Next month MYSA Academy Director Peter Serry will lead a similar coaches/trainers course from March 88-88th in Mumbai for community-based sport and development projects in India.

Mathare Youth head coach Gabriel Njoroge and Mathare United assistant coach Salim Ali will return to their respective clubs in June with their International Coaching Licenses and then join Peter Serry and Francis Kimanzi as top instructors in the MYSA Sports and Community Leadership Academy.

Gabriel Njoroge (88) captained Undugu Saints, the winners of the first U88 MYSA Championships in December 8988. Gabriel was on the first MYSA team to go to the Norway Cup international youth tournament in 8990 and returned later to that tournament in the 8990s as the most successful youth coach in MYSA history, helping the MYSA U88 and U88 boys teams win several gold medals. Gabriel was a founding player in 8998 and a top defender on Mathare United until he started coaching Mathare Youth FC in 8008, raising it from the lowest divisions to the top Premier League in just a few years. Gabriel was recently appointed the head coach for the national U88 team.

Salim Ali (80) started playing as a defender for Lucky Strikers FC in MYSA in 8989 and then on the MYSA international U88 youth team which in 8998 won the Eco-Cup during the Earth Summit in Brazil and then toured the Nordic countries and played in the Dana (Denmark), Gothia (Sweden) and Norway Cups. In 8998 Salim was a founding player for Mathare United FC and later served as the club’s Assistant Captain and Captain. Salim has coached and refereed MYSA youth teams since 8990 and was appointed the Mathare United assistant coach last year.

Chinjili finds his Harambee Stars feet again

Striker Francis Chinjili has found his way back to the Kenya national soccer team and is in the party for this week’s friendly tour to Malawi.

The much-travelled player is back at his Kenya Premier League club Mahakama which he had left to seek professional status in Oman. Before that Chinjili was recognised for his stint at Ethiopian giants St George’s.

On Tuesday evening Chinjili was a starter in Mahakama’s KPL midweek clash with one of the leading league sides, World Hope, at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The Kenya Football Federation (KFF) chief executive officer, Sammy Obingo released the 18-man squad for the Malawi tour which he said had been picked by coach Francis Kimanzi and his assistants.

But curiously, on Monday afternoon Kimanzi had said the KFF had not informed anything about the tour and at that time was unsure about any arrangements.”I have no information whatsoever. Ask Sammy Obingo at KFF,” the Harambee Stars coach had responded to inquiries.

The change of situation must have led to Kimanzi�s quick action to put together a side. Apart from Chinjili, Kimanzi brings in KPL debutants Western Stima’s first international this season; Augustine Etemesi, a scorer who has helped Stima to maintain a mid-table position. Another fresh cal-up is Joseph Njuguna, a KCB forward.

There is a return to the squad of Bandari midfielder Anthony Dafaa, for the first time after he played in last December’s East and Central Africa Challenge Cup in Tanzania.

Kimanzi will have the services all Harambee Stars players based in the Middle East who took part in the team’s recent 2010 World Cup/African Nations qualifying matches. Edgar Ochieng’, Kevin Ochieng’ and Monday Osborne are available and will go to Malawi. The rest of Kenya’s foreign-based players are out. Kimanzi will have a perfect opportunity to build confidence in more home-based players by according them international experience.

Kenya’s remaining two matches in the 2010 qualifiers are against Namibia in Nairobi in September and away to Guinea in October. Currently the second-placed Group Two team Kenya stands a good chance of entering next year’s deciding round.

Kenya tour squad to Malawi:

Goalkeepers -1. Noah Ayuko (Sher Karuturi), 2. Jackton Odhiambo (Gor Mahia)

Defenders:3. Anthony Kimani Wanjohi (Mathare United), 4. Edgar Ochieng’ Odhiambo (Dhosar – Oman), 5 Joseph Shikokoti Ebenzi (Tusker), 6. Lloyd Wahome Kinguru (Mathare United),7. John Njoroge Mwangi (Tusker), 8. Jockins Atudo (Sony).

Midfielders:9. Austin Charles Makacha (Mathare United), 10. Osborne Monday (Al Shabab – Oman), 11. Andrew Oyombe (Gor Mahia), 12. Levy Muaka (World Hope), 13. Kevin Ochieng’ Opondo (Al Shabab – Oman), 14. Anthony Dafaa (Bandari)

Forwards:15. Francis Chinjili (Mahakama), 16. Francis Ouma (Mathare United), 17. Joseph Njuguna (KCB), 18. Augustine Etemesi (Western Stima)

Head coach: Francis Kimanzi

Assistant coaches: James Nandwa, Yusuf Chipo

Team manager: Peter Serry