Former Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee has shed light on the challenges facing local coaches in the FKF Premier League, explaining why they struggle to win the league.Over the past decade, only one local coach, Robert Matano, has managed to guide a team to league success, having won the crown with Tusker in 2021.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe rest of the championships have all been won under the stewardship of foreign tacticians.##NAJAVA_MECA_9007120##Last season, Kenya Police FC defied expectations to clinch the title under Burundian coach Etienne Ndiyaragijje. He took over the team in November when they were deep in the relegation zone and went on to guide them to an unlikely championship victory. The triumph sparked widespread debate on the performance of local coaches and the systemic barriers they face.Mulee, who himself won the league title with Tusker FC, believes the biggest obstacle for local coaches is the lack of backing from club administrators.“One of the biggest challenges is the lack of support from club management. A coach may come in with a plan, but if the leadership does not back it, then success becomes nearly impossible,” he told Eastleigh Voice.Kenya confirms CHAN readiness after passing recent CAF inspection testHe pointed to former Gor Mahia interim coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno as an example of a talented local coach who was not given the same level of trust as foreign tacticians.“Zico was at Gor Mahia a couple of times, but they did not believe in him, despite the fact that he is a former national team coach. There is still this outdated belief that a ‘white’ coach is more capable,” said Mulee.Is Zico poised for dramatic return to Gor Mahia?He also emphasized that the problem is not just about trust. Financial instability across clubs significantly hampers the performance of local coaches.“I was talking to Boniface Ambani the other day in Dandora, and he told me his AFC Leopards players had gone unpaid (allowances) for up to nine games. Now tell me, how is a coach supposed to motivate players in such conditions?”He argued that coaches are often made scapegoats for poor performance while the root problems, including delayed salaries, poor player welfare, and weak club structures, are ignored.Five standout defenders from the 2024/25 season snubbed by McCarthy“The coach is expected to deliver results, but management must first take care of the players’ welfare. You can not expect miracles when salaries and allowances go unpaid,” Mulee stressed.He concluded by calling for a mindset shift in how football is run in Kenya.“Let us be honest. Football is a business everywhere else. But here, we are still treating it like a hobby.”
