Maurice (mwarabu) Shikanda in white(utalii Fc) with the ball against Charles Okwemba (Tusker Fc) during a league match in2004, Ruraka stadium
Kenya Amputee Football Federation has confirmed that former Afc Leopards and Harambee stars hit man Maurice (mwarabu) Shikanda will be assistant Coach of the national side.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Ghetto radio, Secretary General Peter Oloo said they settled for Maurice because he steered the team well when he was the head Coach during the African Cup of Nations. “Maurice did a splended job as the head Last year where he helped the team finish fourth in the the African cup of nations.”
Shikanda who started as a volunteer in 2010, coaching amputees from the streets said that he is hopeful that the team will do well in the Worldcup though he thought it will not be very easy “we hope to do well in this year’s world cup in Mexico. It is not going to be a walk in the park , but as time goes on our team is getting experience. We are not the same as we started way back in 2010.”
The assistant Coach in his hey days a 2003/2004 season Kenya Premier League top scorer while at Utalii FC and 2005/2006 season top scorer while at Tusker Fc, however laments on the poor conditions available to disabled sports men and women in Kenya.
“We have great talent if properly tapped with the correct mechanisms among persons with disabilities. We don’t have many guys showing up for practice or during tryouts because of their financial situations,” concluded the 1995/1996 Afc Leopards striker who also turned pro in 2007 for Muscat Fc in Oman and later finished his career at Chemilil sugar in 2008.
Mwarabu will be deputizing Willis (Awilo) Odhiambo during the world cup in Mexico scheduled for 30th November at Banorte stadium in Sinaloa. The two coaches will finally select a squad of 12 players this Saturday 8th November at Pangani grounds in Nairobi.
Author: Shadrack Andenga Odinga