Marin not obvious choice for Leopards Head Coach official

The buzz cycling around Dorian Marin’s life at AFC Leopards will only get louder for the next 48 hours.

Marin, who was appointed to replace Stewart Hall as Leopards’ Head Coach is yet to formalize his agreement with the domestic giants amid reports a possible deal could be falling apart.

The appointment of the club’s former captain, Tom Juma, as one of the assistant coaches has been perceived as a timely, calculated move to oust the Romanian barely two weeks after he was contacted to take the place of Englishman Hall.

Leopards Secretary General Oscar Igaida admitted Marin, who coached Uganda Revenue Authority SC in 2008, is not the obvious choice for the top job and instead claimed the club is poised to make the announcement on Wednesday.

“Juma is among the coaching staff of AFC Leopards with the final announcement set to be done tomorrow to define who the head coach is and who the assistant is. The reason why we have brought Juma is because we want experience, depth and someone who understand the history of the team,” Igaida told Citizen Digital.

Marin was nonetheless on the dugout as Leopards battled to a barren draw with Mathare United on his KPL debut, a result that left the 12-time Kenyan Premier League (KPL) winners 12 points adrift leaders Tusker FC after 14 rounds.

According to Igaida, the spate of unconvincing results has necessitated a restructuring of the technical bench while claiming Dennis Kitambi, who deputized for Hall, holds the mandate as current coach.

Kitambi has been in Tanzania, his home country, attending a refresher course but has already arrived back at the country.

Leopards who suffered a thumping defeat to archrivals Gor Mahia FC in the finals of the inaugural Super Cup have meanwhile resigned Mussa Mude from Bandari FC with another former player, striker Kepha Aswani also on their radar.

Igaida emphasized Aswani whose spell at the club was marred by allegations of indiscipline will provide an option up front alongside Ghanaian striker Gilbert Fiamenyo who is currently out injured.

-Nzoia recruits-

Ingwe’s Western derby rivals Nzoia Sugar have meanwhile recruited Collins Wakhugu who was unattached as well as promising youngster Patrick Otieno – a form three student at Bukembe Secondary School.

Wakhungu and Otieno caught the eyes of Head Coach Bernard Mwalala and Team Manager Evans Kadenge after attending successful trials at the club and has now been drafted as the club’s player ahead of the KPL second leg.

“He is very talented and I have the feeling he will bring something very positive to the squad. We’re currently position 11 in the league and that’s not where we want to be,” the former Harambee Stars player said.

Mwalala stated Otieno is unlikely to feature this season owing to commitments to his studies and added they are on the hunt for a midfielder and a central defender as he eyes a better run in the second half of the KPL.

-Report by Godfrey Ashiali and Geoffrey Mwamburi.