Former Harambee Stars head coach Stanley Okumbi has turned down an offer from Mathare United, requesting him to be their special technical advisor.
According to a statement released by the club on Monday, Okumbi landed the role alongside former Nzoia Sugar and Posta Rangers tactician Collins ‘Korea’ Omondi, who was appointed head coach.
“Mathare United are proud to confirm the appointment of Collins Omondi and Stanley Okumbi as both head coach and special technical advisor respectively until the end of the 2022/23 season,” the statement read in part.
“The duo’s immediate task will be to steer the team out of the relegation zone in our remaining eight matches,” the club said in the statement.
The development was the third in a series of changes rung at the cash-strapped former champions in a short span of one year.
However, in an exclusive interview on Monday, Okumbi agreed that Mathare had remotely expressed their interest in his services but the matter had not been deliberated to conclusion.
“I’m reading about it on social media. We have not entered into any agreement with Mathare United. Besides, I’m not available for the job because I have several other commitments at the moment,” Okumbi said.
Okumbi said he already has too much on his plate after being appointed by the Football Kenya Federation to steer the boy’s Under-18 national team.
“FKF have already assigned me to prepare the Kenya U-18 team for the Cecafa Championships later in the year and I’m already traversing the country scouting for talent,” Okumbi said.
“We started identifying talent during the high school games. We have also spotted some players in the FKF Division One and Two leagues and we are keenly following their progress to know who we will ultimately bring on board.”
However, Omondi said he will be taking up his role at Mathare.
Omondi, better known as Korea in local football circles, presided over his first training session last Friday and has been preparing the team for his first match in charge, against Gor Mahia on Wednesday at Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
This will be Omondi’s second head coaching job in the KPL after his tenure with Nzoia Sugar in the 2019/20 season. He has also guided Nairobi Stima in the National Super League and was, at some point, an assistant coach at Kariobangi Sharks and at Posta Rangers.
“Acting head coach Samuel Koko resumes his role as a goalkeeper trainer and going forward, will also work as an assistant to Omondi,” the statement read.
Koko, who took over from Boniface Omondi in February as the team languished at the bottom of the table with only one win, proceeded to lead the lads to six wins in 14 matches in charge.
The Slum Boys are currently 16th on the standings after gleaning a paltry 22 points from 26 encounters in their league outings thus far.
