Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One side Ruiru Hotstars have parted ways with head coach Pascal Ochieng and his assistant Anthony Gicho following a string of poor performances.In a late-night statement, the club confirmed the decision to relieve Ochieng, a former Harambee Stars and Simba SC defender, of his duties to allow for a review of the team’s performance.Hotstars, long considered strong contenders for promotion to the National Super League (NSL), have struggled this season.##NAJAVA_MECA_8508826##After eight matches, they have managed only one win, three draws, and four losses, leaving them 13th in the 16-team league with six points, just two above the relegation zone.Their solitary win came last month against Dandora Youth.The latest setback, a 2-0 defeat to Spitfire FC, reportedly was the straw that broke the camel’s back.Former Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee on why Harambee Stars failed to beat ZimbabweThis result extended the team’s winless streak to four games, including a goalless draw with newcomers Marafiki FC, a 2-1 loss to Bumbani Stars, and a 2-2 stalemate against Strathmore University.The club expressed gratitude to the outgoing coaches while signalling a transition period.”Team management has decided to relieve head coach Pascal Ochieng and assistant coach Anthony Gicho of their duties while we review the team’s overall performance. We deeply appreciate their hard work and dedication and remain grateful for their commitment. In the meantime, a coaching unit will be established to guide the team. We thank our loyal fans for their continued support and understanding during this transition. Together, we are confident that better days lie ahead,” the statement read.My exit from Gor Mahia was ‘planned and premeditated’ – Neiva blames club politics and security concernsOchieng took charge of Hotstars at the beginning of the current campaign, replacing Shem Omwambia.His assistant, Anthony Gicho, had been with the club longer, initially serving under former coach Suleiman Ngotho. Gicho briefly held the reins before Ochieng’s arrival.With Ochieng’s departure, Ruiru Hotstars has begun the search for a new coach to address their struggles and reignite their promotion ambitions.##NAJAVA_MECA_8509168##This comes amid concerns about the club’s high turnover of coaching staff in recent months.The team’s next move will be critical as they attempt to salvage their season and avoid falling into the relegation zone, pending results from other fixtures, such as Kibra United’s derby against Kibera Soccer.
