Leonard Odipo has set ambitious plans aimed at helping Kibera Black Stars earn promotion to the Kenyan Premier League next season after taking over as head coach at the National Super League club.Odipo took over a week ago, replacing former KCB assistant coach, Elvis Ayany who parted ways with the club after failing to guide the team to the top tier. Black Stars were in the race for the better part of the season before they dropped out in the closing stages and ended up finishing in the seventh position with 52 points.GalleryWazito FC Vs Kibera Black Stars#Wazito4life pic.twitter.com/g2l6400B0E— Wazito Football Club (@wazitofc) October 2, 2021 The experienced Odipo has now been tasked with guiding the community club to the top tier and he is hitting the ground running. The former Nairobi Stima, and Sony Sugar head coach says he has been conducting trials since he landed at the club and is keen on having a lean squad.”I have been with the team for the last six days, and we haven’t really trained because we have been conducting trials. We had over 70 players who came for trials and it has all been about reducing the number. I am left with around 36 players and we will have to let go of around 10 to 12 more. We want to have a lean squad as possible, “the tactician told Mozzart Sport.The tactician acknowledged the work done by the previous coaching team led by Ayany and is keen on identifying the problem that led to the team falling apart in the critical stages of the season.”I must appreciate the work that the previous coach did, the team was in contention for promotion until the final days and that means there’s something that they were doing right. For me, it’s now about finding what did not work if it’s the mental strength, tactical part, or even physical element. You have to identify the problem in order to address it,” he continued.FTWazito FC 3-2 Kibera Black Stars (Gichimu, Tyson, Oburu)Thank you for the good game KBS and good luck in the coming season.#Wazito4life— Wazito Football Club (@wazitofc) October 2, 2021 The former Tusker FC, Mathare United and Kariobangi Sharks assistant coach understands that he has been brought on board to guide the team to the top tier.”The goal has always been to earn promotion to the top tier and we will try to work on that. I understand the ambition of the team and I have to align myself well to ensure that we are on the same page. We report back to training on Tuesday and that’s when our pre-season begins. We have to prepare well so that when the league starts we are ready, a positive start is key,” he continued.Black Stars played Wazito in a friendly match on Saturday and lost 3-2.
