Newly appointed Mara Sugar head coach George “Tompo” Midenyo says they won’t be carried away by their 3-0 thrashing of Kakamega Homeboyz in their Kenyan Premier League opener at Awendo Green Stadium on August 24.
A Samuel Odaro brace and Matthias Isogol’s strike were enough to see the sugarmen bumble the 2023 FKF Cup winners, much to coach Ken Kenyatta’s chagrin.
Midenyo insists the debutants won’t take a title contenders’ tag.
“We are fresh in the KPL and winning the opener doesn’t mean we are top yet. We target to maintain our league status next season. Winning anything will be a bonus,” said Midenyo.
The former Gor Mahia and Tusker striker was officially unveiled on Wednesday although he was on the bench in thin against Homeboyz. Midenyo will work alongside immediate former head coach Benedict Wanjala, who led Mara to the 2023–24 National Super League title.
The new changes were necessitated by FKF’s rules which demand that every KPL coach must be a CAF ‘A’ licence holder, which Wanjala doesn’t have.
He expects tougher outings.
“We have just done matchday one of 34. We still have a long way to go. We started well and need to continue with the momentum as we continue with the work started by Wanjala,” added the former Kenyan international.
Meanwhile, Midenyo has praised the elevation and success of women coaches.
He congratulated Police Bullets head coach Beldine Odemba for finishing runners up in the Addis Ababa Cecafa zonal qualifiers in her maiden appearance.
The MYSA alumnus believes Odemba is a time bomb waiting to explode and expects more from a coach who led Highway Secondary School to their maiden national secondary school games title last month.
He also expects exciting encounters with the first female coach to lead a men’s team in the league — Talanta’s Jackline Juma.
Midenyo acknowledged Midred Cheche’s expertise in leading Junior Starlets to the U-17 World Cup. This, he said, shows women coaches have grown in the game and will open more doors in the male-dominated field.
Midenyo started his career with Mathare United in 2000 and had two stints with Tusker and another in Norway. He has been on the Wazito and Mathare United benches as an assistant coach. He is straight from Fusion Academy.
