Kibera Soccer Women's new coach, George Okallo
Kenya Women's Premier League side, Kibera
Soccer, have turned to a familiar face, George Robert Okallo, to change their fortunes.
The coach, known to his followers as Bob, was appointed two days ago to take charge of the Kibera-based side
Kibera
finished third, behind defending champions Kenya Police and Ulinzi
Starlets last season, but were later crowned Kenya Cup champions.
Bob served as director of coaching at Kibera Girls Soccer Academy
from 2010 to 2012, and he is credited with laying the foundation for most of
the current squad’s talent pipeline. He has since been residing in the
US, where he has coached women's football for over three decades.
“I’ve been in coaching for about 35
years, mainly women’s soccer,” he said. “I moved back home to give back to the community because I
saw how God helped me develop women players. I have also realised there is a huge gap in women's football and I want to help grow the sport."
The
tactician, who was appointed on Tuesday, takes over from David Vijago, who has been with the team for more than three seasons.
Vijago is set to start formally with Kenya Police Bullets from Monday, following the release of coach Beldine Odemba.
Having
built Matuu FC, a side that won the league and produced 12 Harambee
Starlets players during his tenure at the National Youth Talent Academy, coach Bob brings a mixture of corporate discipline and football nous. “On
time is late, early is on time,” he said, stressing standards and a
clean slate for all players.
He
plans to implement structured periodisation and high-intensity tactical
training rarely seen at the club level in Kenya.
“Pre-season is where you
make sure they’re technically on track,” he said. “We’ll gauge fitness,
push individual development and create a style based on positional and
possessional play. We all defend and we all attack. My goalkeeper must
be good with her feet.”
Kibera
Soccer Women, who picked up 41 points last season, will be expected to
improve on their third-place finish and build on their Kenya Cup run.
“I
didn’t come to finish second, third or fourth. Only top,” Coach Bob
declared.
“I’ve told them what the target is and why we must raise the standards. If you’re good and deserve to play, you’ll play.”
He
is also eyeing long-term sustainability and player pathways.
“We have a
lot of networks with professional teams in the US and universities. We
want to develop these players,” he said. “My goal is to make it
professional so that the women are financially well-paid. We don’t want to
depend on donors.”
With his
Barcelona-inspired philosophy of quick passing and fluid movement, coach
Bob is determined to stamp his identity on the club and change the
landscape of women’s football in Kenya. “This is part of my vision to
make an impact in Kenyan football and create success stories,” he said.
