The Standard: “Coach hails league”

Harambee Stars and Mathare United coach, Francis Kimanzi, has hailed Tusker’s triumph in the Cecafa Club championship as an indicator of Kenyan Premier League’s strength.

Tusker overcame Uganda’s URA 2-1 in the regional championship final on Sunday in Dar es Salaam Tanzania and Kimanzi now feels KPL can only grow stronger.

“Perhaps it is time our players dotting the East Africa leagues should think of coming back and strengthen our own. We have been in turmoil for many years but after only two years of organisation we have won the regional title,” Kimanzi said.

Tusker were the last Kenyan club to win the title in 2001 and have done it again against a backdrop of renewed optimism the local clubs will rule the regional roost again.

After years of mismanagement of the local game, many Kenyan footballers went to Tanzania, Uganda and Rwandan leagues in search of green pastures.

But Kimanzi says: “A lot has changed. There is organisation now, our media is vibrant and is doing a lot to market our players.”

“Before our players thought of going to Tanzania or Uganda they would get quick exits to Europe. Even here we have seen players get good clubs abroad so I think it is time they came back home,” Kimanzi said.

Boniface Ambani and George Owino (Yanga, Tanzania) were on the losing side when Tusker beat the Tanzanians in the semi-final.

Oscar Kadenge has just returned to Kenya from Uganda’s Sports Club Villa and notched Tusker’s winning goal on Sunday. After going full circle, Thika United’s James Omondi and Anthony Mathenge and Francis Chinjili (Mahakama) have returned to KPL and doing well so far.

By Robin Toskin
Source: http://www.eastandard.net/

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