•Kimani said he is aware of the huge responsibility placed on his shoulders.
•Kimani has been a free agent since mid-last season when he parted ways with coastal side, Bandari, on a mutual agreement
Image: /FILE
The newly appointed Ulinzi Stars head coach Anthony "Modo" Kimani has pledged to end the Kenyan Premier League club's 13-year title drought.
Kimani said the management of the club had already made their expectations clear to him upon appointment. "As I join the club, I have my work cut out, and that is to secure titles," Kimani said.
"I am joining a side that has displayed immense potential in the past by winning four KPL titles. We have amazing management around here and some exceptionally talented players to help us in delivering the title," he remarked.
Kimani said he is aware of the huge responsibility placed on his shoulders. Kimani has been a free agent since mid-last season when he parted ways with coastal side, Bandari, on a mutual agreement. The club brought the development to light through a statement released on Wednesday.
"Ulinzi Stars are delighted to announce the appointment of Anthony Kimani as our new head coach," the statement read.
Sources say the final list was whittled down to two candidates, leading to a final contest between Kimani and the immediate former KCB head coach Zedekiah "Zico" Otieno.
"Both of them enjoy impressive CVs and fitted the description of the candidate we desired to have in the role. It was a tough decision to make because of the close contest," the source said.
"We finally decided to pick Kimani for the job after a painstaking search," the source said.
Kimani joined Bandari in February 2021 to deputise Rwandese tactician Andre Casa Mbungo who also happened to be his boss at AFC Leopards.
Kimani took over the reins in an acting capacity in February last year after Mbungo was sent packing following a horrendous run in the league.
The ex-Kenyan international and Mathare United defender was ultimately confirmed to the role in August last year after impressing in the second leg of the preceding campaign.
He is expected to turn around the fortunes of the soldiers who have endured a long spell without any major local silverware since 2010 when they last clinched the KPL title.
Ulinzi have been rummaging through the market for a suitable candidate following the departure of Bernard Mwalala who switched allegiance to KCB at the beginning of July.
Initially based at Lanet in Nakuru county, the Kenya Defence Forces affiliated club recently shifted base to the newly constructed Ulinzi Sports Complex at Langata in Nairobi.
They romped to consecutive titles from 2003 to 2005 and bagged another one in 2010.