NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – Newly-appointed Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) FC coach Bernard Mwalala says he wants to win the FKF Premier League title with the bankers.
Mwalala bemoaned the bankers’ barren spell without silverware and admitted his biggest task will be to reverse the trend.
“If you look at our past record, we have not churned out the kind of performances to enable us win silverware. For so many years, KCB have come close to winning silverware…winning the Premier League title but have been unsuccessful. So, my biggest aim will be to challenge for titles beginning with the league title,” the immediate former Ulinzi Stars coach said.
Mwalala was last week appointed as the new boss of the bankers, succeeding Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno who had been at the helm for four years.
During his time, the former Gor Mahia rightback brought the team close to the title, challenging on numerous occassions only to fall short.
In the just-concluded season, the bankers finished fifth on the log with 64 points, six adrift of eventual champions Gor Mahia and seperated by goal difference from third and fourth-placed finishers Kenya Police and Nzoia — who had the same number of points.
On his part, Mwalala led Ulinzi to ninth with 49 points in addition to reaching the last four of the FKF Cup where they lost to losing finalists Tusker FC.
However, the gaffer assumes the reins at the bankers on the back of an esteemed reputation that includes a second-place finish with Bandari and Kakamega Homeboyz — in addition to leading the former to the FKF Cup in 2020.
At his new station, Mwalala will be assisted by Elvis Ayany in addition to Eric Muranda (fitness trainer), Samuel Okoth (goalkeeper trainer), Collins Kyama (physiotherapist) and Michael Oyando (team manager).
The former Kenyan international expressed confidence in the technical bench to help him achieve his aspirations for KCB.
“The most important thing for us is to become a family. As a coach, one of my first tasks will be to bring everyone on board. In this, I am talking about the management, players, fans as well as the technical bench. Equally important is for us to work together and embrace unity as well as friendship,” he said.
Mwalala added: “There will always be ups and downs but the most important thing is to maintain focus on that which we want, which is to win the league title.”
KCB kick off their 2023/24 league campaign away in Kakamega to Mwalala’s former team, Homeboyz.
