EYES ON THE PRIZE

Coach Odhiambo vows to lift Bandari to another level

Odhiambo was mandated to navigate the Dockers through the stormy Kenyan Premier League waters after penning a two-year deal last week.

In Summary

•Speaking a week after he arrived at the Mombasa-based outfit, Odhiambo revealed plans to transform the 2019 FKF Cup champions into Kenyan Premier League title contenders.

•He embarks on his lofty journey with Bandari, high on confidence, after guiding the Emerging Stars to significant victories over Zambia and Zimbabwe during the 2024 Cosafa Cup in South Africa late last month.


Bandari players celebrate
Bandari players celebrate
Image: @BandariOfficial

The recently appointed Bandari head coach, Ken Odhiambo, has vowed to steer the dockers to unprecedented heights.

Speaking a week after he arrived at the Mombasa-based outfit, Odhiambo revealed plans to transform the 2019 FKF Cup champions into Kenyan Premier League title contenders.

Odhiambo, who wears other hats as Harambee Stars assistant coach and Kenya Under-23 head coach, was mandated to navigate the Dockers through the stormy KPL waters after penning a two-year deal last week.

He embarks on his lofty journey high on confidence, after guiding the Emerging Stars to landmark victories over Zambia and Zimbabwe during the 2024 Cosafa Cup in South Africa late last month.

“My first task is to ensure we have adequate personnel with the capacity to contend for titles. Our target is to run away with the silverware in the new season,” Odhiambo stated.

“I've been with the club before and I understand just how passionate our fans are and eager to see the first-ever KPL trophy delivered at Bandari. We shall do all we can to make their dreams come true,” he added.

Odhiambo will be tasked with turning around the fortunes of a side that has been groping for its maiden topflight silverware since. 

The closest Bandari came to clinching the league was during the 2017–2018 season when they emerged second in the cut-throat competition.

They bagged the KPL Super Cup 2018 to earn a Caf Confederation Cup qualification spot.

Odhiambo reckons they can go a notch higher and fly the nation's flag at the coveted Caf Champions League if they burn the midnight oil for a maiden KPL title.

“Winning the title will be our priority because we want to participate in Africa's biggest inter-club competition, usually reserved for league champions. We are already doing our pre-season because the league is only a few weeks away and I believe we'll have a competitive squad to get the job done,” he said.

Odhiambo was brought in to beef up the technical bench ahead of a vicious hunt for the KPL title.

He will head a brilliant coaching unit that includes ex-Kenyan international John Barasa, who was demoted to the role of assistant coach after guiding the side for the better part of the preceding season.