Former City Stars defender hangs boots, swings into Coaching at Mathare United

Former City Stars defender hangs boots, swings into Coaching at Mathare United
Kevin de Bruyne poses with the PFA Trophy

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 16 – Former Nairobi City Stars and Kariobangi Sharks defender Wycliffe Otieno has hung up his boots and ventured into coaching, swinging from the Kawangware-based side to Mathare United, where he is one of the assistant coaches.

Otieno featured for City Stars for the last four seasons and was part of their team that earned promotion to the top tier. He however left the side at the close of last season.

“Yes it is official, I have hung up my boots and taken up coaching. It is a path that I have for a very long time known that I would pursue. It is funny how even in High School I knew that I wanted to be a football coach,” Otieno said.

He added; “Now it is all about getting the requisite education and gaining experience. I am crossing my fingers that this part of my football journey is going to be a beautiful and inspiring story.”

Wycliffe Otieno shares instructions with winger Curtis Wekesa

Otieno has been on the Mathare bench for the last several games, working under coach Boniface Omondi.

His former Chief Executive Officer at City Stars Patrick Korir said he was excited and proud of Otieno as he starts the next phase of his career.

“His qualities were always visible in his character and how he carried himself. He had very good leadership and I know that he will make a very good coach and will produce the next line of Kenyan stars,” Korir said.

He hopes that he willuse his playing experience to help Mathare United this season as they look to perform better than they have over the last four seasons, battling relegation.

Timothy Olobulu

A lover of sports who seeks to tell the African story in an African way. Top ten finalist of the Abu Dhabi Sports Media Pearl Awards. Be it on the pitch, court, track, pool or course, the story will be told. On twitter @olobulu