KBC Channel 1

Tag: Twaha Mbarak

  • Bandari FC courting Burundian players to strengthen their squad

    Bandari FC courting Burundian players to strengthen their squad

    The Kenya Premier League side Bandari FC has intensified their pursuit of establishing themselves a football powerhouse in the country following their renewed efforts to sign experienced players in a bid to strengthen their squad after the conclusion of local top flight campaign on Sunday.

    The club’s Vice Chairman and long serving football stakeholder Twaha Mbarak is currently leading the mission in Tanzania  after watching Burundi’s qualifying fixture for the Africa Cup of Nations against Namibia at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Tuesday.

    “We are here to continue with our agenda of partnerships with like minded football entities who mean well towards development of the game in Africa.Besides we also came to support and rally behind our Bandari player Nahimana Shassir who is a Burundi national and also try to scout a few exceptional talents who if incorporated into our team they will help us deliver our targets for the subsequent campaign locally and even on the continental scene” he exclusively told KBC Digital Sports.

    Since the arrival of Twaha after Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Captain William Ruto overhauled Bandari FC Board of Trustees retaining Abdullah Samatar as the chairman,the Coastal side has been on a charm offensive seeking to galvanize their result and win top tier for the first time since its inception.

    KPA boss William K Ruto (right) with Bandari FC Vice Chairman Twaha Mbarak

    The former Black Panther attacking midfielder is best remembered for his efforts to normalise Kenya’s relations with the world football governing body FIFA leading to unified elections in 2011.

    “I am convinced that I have the requisite skills, passion and expertise that will add value to the management of the club.This club is capable of achieving many things. Bandari players, technical staff and the entire management have demonstrated they are hungry for success which is an important element in pursuit of the club’s mission and vision,”  remarked Twaha

    Tunisian Nasredinne Nabbi who guided Tanzanian giants Yanga FC to the CAF Confederations Cup finals has been the most sought after tactician by the Coastal side as the permanent replacement for Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani who parted ways with the team over a string of poor results

    According to reports,Bandari FC offered the 58-year-old KES 1.5 million monthly salary which was initially rejected even as negotiations continue to be underway to tap the services of equally a highly qualified coach whether local based or a foreigner.

    Locally,the Dockers are considered to be approaching former national team Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi,Tusker FC gaffer Robert Matano,his AFC Leopards counterpart Patrick Aussems among others.

    According to Twaha, they are exploring all options to make Bandari a reputable name locally and beyond.

    “The plan is to ensure that the team becomes a big competitor domestically and internationally. We want to ensure that Bandari FC competes in African championships while targeting special competitions between us and regional powerhouses like Yanga SC and Simba SC,” said Mbarak, adding that the strategy will ensure that the team is heard and popularised in Kenya and internationally.”

    Bandari which has had a turnaround in performances under the temporary tutelage of vastly experienced tactician Twahir Muhiddin winning five and drawing two of the seven games will play against Kariobangi Sharks on Thursday before ending the season with a clash against Posta Rangers on Sunday

    “I am not willing to stay in this post beyond the end of the season because I have work to do for the CAF and the Football Kenya Federation. I believe both federations would do with my experience better compared to Bandari,” revealed the former Harambee Stars assistant coach.

    Before the international break,they beat 2009 KPL champions Sofapaka 2-0 at the Nyayo Stadium courtesy of goals by James Kinyanjui and the on-form national team Harambee Stars winger Hassan Abdallah.

    Last week,Twaha who is a top business man in Mombasa led Bandari FC to commence negotiations with Young Africans which if materialise will see them enter into football partnership  geared towards strategic engagement in various areas with the intention to professionalise the local sports industry.

  • Bandari,Yanga in talks over club football partnership

    Bandari,Yanga in talks over club football partnership

    The local top flight Coastal side Bandari FC and Tanzania Premier League giants Yanga FC have commenced negotiations that if materialise will see them enter into football partnership geared towards strategic engagement in various areas with the intention to professionalise the local sports industry.

    The development was discussed when the Vice Chairman of Dockers and long serving football stakeholder Twaha Mbarak met with Young Africans SC Chairman Engineer Hersi Ally during the Azam Cup finals at Tanga stadium on Monday.

    “As Bandari we continue to strive for excellence, it is fantastic to be able to learn from Yanga FC; we are looking to pick up all we can from a club who are arguably one of the best  in the African continent as its management and performance is way above there courtesy of the vibrant Eng. Hersi who has made Yanga become a shining example of how proper organizational structure is healthy for a top side with ambition of continuously challenging for top honours in modern football. We aim to continue to share knowledge and experience, as well as building the relationship in terms of exposing our players and technical bench to the Yanga systems”  he said

    “Our engagement will revolve around  club management, activities for fans, digital transformation, Marketing, sales, Economic control, and international development.With how Yanga is structured, it’s evident that they will continue to dominate the Tanzanian Premier League which has now rebranded to Ligi Ku Bara as they continue their asendency to the top of African Football.And if we emulate on them,we’ll follow suit and become continental heavyweights” he added

    On and off the field, Tanzania’s oldest club looked like a pale shadow of the side that had won 27 league titles and had even fashioned a fearsome reputation on the continent. 

    They retained the Azam Federation Cup title after beating Azam FC 1-0 at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.This is the second title for the Jangwani Street giants this season.

    Yanga also won the NBC Premier League title besides clinching a silver medal in the CAF Confederation Cup on the away goals rule despite the 2-2 aggregates.

    Engineer Hersi is believed to have orchestrated Yanga’s revival when he took over the reigns.

    Fan or not, overhauling Yanga’s fortunes would not be a walk in the park, considering that the team barely even afforded to keep its best players. Taking stock of the problems faced by the troubled club in 2020 was the first port of call. He did so with a civil engineer’s precision

    “We signed an agreement to produce kits for the club. It solved two issues—they got money, and it resolved the kit issue. We did a good launch. We understood that it’s not business if your partner is not doing well. So, we decided to do more for the club and signed players.

    “The next thing we did was change the place they camped before games. We gave them a good hotel. We secured a contract for a proper training ground,” explains the revered engineer-cum-administrator.

    “The club couldn’t pay salaries, accommodation and transport. Players were terminating their contracts. They travelled by bus to games,” Eng. Hersi recalls. It was unsustainable. The club was living on donations, and we had to call fans to hire transport, air tickets, and sign players. I happened to be the chairman of the Yanga Family, whose responsibility was to solicit funds,” he was further quoted

    In May this year,Twaha-the former Football Kenya Federation vice-president was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Kenya Premier League side, Bandari FC.

    In a letter written by the Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director William K. Ruto,the club moved to tap the experience of the respected sports administrator and Mombasa businessman.

    “In view of your vast experience in football administration both at the Coast region and at national level, I am convinced that you have the requisite skills, passion and expertise that will add value to the management of the club,” KPA MD Ruto wrote in the appointment offer.

    He is dreaming big weeks after taking over. “The plan is to ensure that the team becomes a big competitor domestically and internationally. We want to ensure that Bandari FC competes in African championships while targeting special competitions between us and regional powerhouses like Yanga SC and Simba SC,” said Mbarak, adding that the strategy will ensure that the team is heard and popularised in Kenya and internationally.” noted Twaha

    After parting ways with Antony ‘Modo’ Kimani who was with the team for over one year,Bandari is in the process of acquiring a new highly qualified tactician who will steer the team’s ambition from next season.

    Among those whose services are being chased after include former national team Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi, current Tusker FC tactician Robert Matano and ex Kenyan International cum Kakamega Homeboyz and Ulinzi Stars gaffer Bernard Mwalala.

    Temporarily,they are currently under the stewardship of a top Football Kenya Federation instructor Twahir Muhhidin who has guided the side  before in the same capacity.