NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 2 – FKF Premier League side Sofapaka FC have named Burundian tactician Francis Harigingo as the club’s new head coach for the next two seasons, after the promotion of David Ouma to Technical Director.
Harigingo, who arrives with assistant coach Pablo Uwimana recently resigned as coach of Rayon Sports in Rwanda, and has also coached Mukura Sports, Police FC as well as Kiyovu Sports.
He comes in with a rich pedigree and this is what Batoto ba Mungu will be riding on as they look to take the team back on top, having failed to match the heights in which they reached before, winning the league on their top flight debut in 2009.
Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa says he is confident the coach will take the team back on top, as he comes into the club with a rich pedigree from his time in Rwanda.
“He is a coach who we have followed through his career in Rwanda and we had a good study and did our due diligence on him. He is a coach who has won trophies in the teams he has coached and that is what we love as a club; a coach who will bring in a winning culture,” said Kalekwa.
The Burundian coach joins Sofapaka who have struggled for the last three seasons and have barely made it into the top half of the standings.
He has pegged a target of winning a trophy in his first season, but knows it will not come easy.
“I am really delighted to hoin Sofapaka. For a team like this, a big club, there is always the expectation of winning a trophy and my ambition as well is to come here and help the team do better by winning a title,” the tactician, who arrived in the country on Sunday said.
He added; “The Kenyan league is very different from Burundi and Rwanda. The physicality is much more here and it is also quite fast. It requires a lot pf physicality from the players. I have done my research on the team as well as the others in the league and I know what to expect. This information will also be helpful for me to prepare my team for the new season.”
The Burundian is expected to take charge of his first training session on Thursday as he begins his new chapter with the 2009 league champions and he has an array of new players in his squad, including the returning dup of Mousa Omar and Abdul Razak Fiston.
The tactician also says if need be, he might add some more.
“We have a good team with a blend of youth and experience. The players who have come on board are equally good. I will look at the team of course in training and if I see an area where we need someone I will put through a recommendation to the bosses,” noted the coach.
