Former AFC Leopards skipper Francis Xavier has been appointed to replace Ezekiel Akwana at the helm of Mathare United’s technical bench following the resignation of the latter on Friday.Confirming the developments at the club, Mathare took to their social media pages to announce the departure of Akwana and added that his assistant Xavier would assume the position of a head coach on an interim basis.”Mathare United has on Friday 21 January parted ways with head coach Ezekiel Akwana. Akwana stepped down from his role following a run of poor results and will be replaced on an interim basis by his immediate assistant Francis Xavier. Xavier’s first task will be to prepare the team for the hosting of AFC Leopards this Sunday,” the club posted.Former AFC Leopards captain Francis Xavier named Mathare United’s interim head coach.Until his appointment, Xavier served as Ezekiel Akwana’s assistant. Akwana resigned on Friday morning.#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/lBcAGLUyY3— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) January 21, 2022 Xavier has a hard task ahead of him as Mathare are currently on a seven-match losing streak and face AFC Leopards on Sunday, Xavier’s former team as a player and captain.Akwana has stepped down from his position citing poor working conditions occasioned by the financial strain at the club that has seen the team post bad results this season.The former Mathare United player himself added that the decision was also to save his image as the bad performance was a result of the team’s inconsistency in training and lack of motivation to the players emanating from the financial struggle as players have not been paid for months.Mkufunzi wa Mathare United Ezekiel Akwana amejiuzulu wadhifa wake kutokana na msururu wa matokeo mabaya. Francis Xavier ameteuliwa kuwa mkufunzi wa muda Mathare United.#FKFPremierLeague pic.twitter.com/zS98tFyI8J— Mozzart Bet Kenya (@mozzartbetkenya) January 21, 2022 Akwana took over as Mathare United head coach following the departure of Frank Ouna to Musanze of Rwanda in September, having been one of Ouna’s backroom staff last season as Mathare miraculously survived the drop at a time when relegation seemed inevitable.In the current campaign, the Slum Boys have won only two games and have lost all of their last seven matches, which leaves them in the relegation zone as hunger pangs from the financial situation continue to bite.
