The game of musical chairs has begun in the Kenyan premier league with movement of coaches already beginning in earnest.

Francis Kimanzi has been reappointed the head coach at Mathare United seven years after leading the team to its only Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title and just under 2 months since he stepped down as coach of Tusker saying he needed a break from football after being knocked out of the Gotv Shield.

A former Mathare United midfielder, Kimanzi will be deputized by Salim Ali, who replaced him at the team in 2009.

“I know Mathare United and I understand the systems here so I hope it will be easier slotting in here. The pressure is always there but we will give our best in dealing with it,” he noted.

He added that the aim is to take the team back to the top, this coming after the team missed out on a place in the Top 8.

“The immediate job is to start the process of returning the team where it belongs and I want to laud my predecessor for the good job he did with the team,” he added.

After Mathare, Kimanzi coached Sofapaka in 2011 before leaving to join the national team. He took over Tusker last season on a two year deal. He left a few games to the end of the season after a poor 2015 that saw the brewers fall way off the title race.

FRANCIS KIMANZI BIO:

Kimanzi was appointed full-time manager of the Kenyan national side Harambee Stars on 11 December 2008, having held the post as a caretaker since May 2008. He was sacked from the post of national team coach after the 2008 CECAFA Cup in January 2009 due to disputes between him and Kenyan football administrators. After a one-year spell coaching club side Sofapaka, he was reappointed as head coach of the Kenyan national team in November 2011. In June 2012 he was sacked as manager of Kenya alongside his entire coaching staff after Kenya failed to qualify for the 2013 African Nations Cup.

Born 29^th May 1976(39 years)

Current club: Mathare United (Head Coach)

Senior Career:

1994 – 2002 Mathare United

Teams Managed:

2002 – 2010 – Mathare United

2008 – 2009 Kenya

2011 – Sofapaka

2011 – 2012 Kenya

2013 – 2015 Tusker