Newly appointed Mathare United head coach Collins ‘Korea’ Omondi believes that the team is in the right place to make a big run in the last four games of the season in a bid to avoid automatic relegation from the FKF Premier League.Handed the reins on 1 May to ‘try and preserve the club’s three-decade stay in the top flight’, Omondi has endured a challenging first four games with the side but is building positives from the foundations he has set since.Kenya U20 coach Stanley Okumbi has rejoined Mathare United as the technical director until the end of the season.Posta Rangers’ assistant coach, Collins ‘Korea’ Omondi is the new club head coach. Sam Koko, who has been serving as the interim coach reverts to his goalkeeping… pic.twitter.com/NYV7txSxRc— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) May 1, 2023 “The stats are there to show, four losses since I came in and only one goal scored,” Omondi told Mozzart Sport when asked about how he was settling in at the club. “Since I came in, it has been me trying to find and address the problems affecting the club and majority of them are done with.”Prior to his appointment, the 2008 FKFPL champions were riding on a bad run of form that had seen them drop five consecutive games and as per Omondi’s assessment, goal scoring, defending, fitness and cohesion were the things lacking at the club then.“Playing through a congested fixture list has been an issue in setting the culture but for the first time I saw something shift in our last game against Kenya Police,” the former Nzoia Sugar head coach said. “We looked confident, conceded less, played well and created enough chances that couldn’t just go in.”Tylor Ongwae joins Ivorian side ABC Fighters for upcoming BAL PlayoffsIn the Sunday game settled by Police striker Elvis Rupia, Omondi admitted to having found a working formula that involved playing natural midfielders in defense and was confident that only one phase of the game was left with some work to do.“The last team goal came via a penalty against Kariobangi Sharks, some days before I got in,” Omondi said of his team’s offensive struggles. “We now have two weeks to work on our finishing and make the big run in our remaining matches.”The matches remaining – KCB, Ulinzi Stars, Kakamega Homeboyz and Wazito – are ones that Omondi expects 12 points from and is not willing to put any pressure on the players that impacts their performances.##NAJAVA_MECA_7261632##“The environment I try to cultivate in such a situation is calm,” the former Kariobangi Sharks assistant coach said. “Remaining together and approaching every game in the same way as before will be important for us. Just winning their minds.”Asked about dropping a place lower to 17th thanks to an in-form Wazito, Omondi dismissed focusing on the opponents, urging the fans to rally behind the team, making a promise.“There is no cause for alarm. The challenge is in front of us but we will beat it. We are going to survive.”
