Western Stima set to unveil new coach

 Paul Ogai

Western Stima coach Paul Ogai (left) receives the December Fidelity Insurance Coach of the month award at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu on February 5, 2019. Former Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) champions Sofapaka have appointed Paul Ogai as assistant coach.

Photo credit: Pool

What you need to know:

  • Club chairman Laban Jobita confirmed that Ogai will be returning to lead the team for the second time on a one-and -a-half year deal
  • The powermen have been hit by a mass exodus of players this transfer window following the exit of sponsor Kenya Power and Lighting Company in June but Jobita says they are in advanced talks with a new sponsor


Paul Ogai is set to return to Kenyan Premier League side Western Stima as head coach.

Club chairman Laban Jobita confirmed that Ogai will be returning to lead the team for the second time on a one-and -a-half year deal.

He will replace Salim Babu who resigned and joined Wazito as assistant coach in August. Coincidentally it is Bbu who replaced Ogai as Stima coach in April last year.

“We have appointed Ogai as our new coach and more details pertaining to his contract will be revealed on Friday. We are still finalising on some aspects of the contract so we cannot reveal much at the moment,” Jobita told Nation Sport.

The powermen have been hit by a mass exodus of players this transfer window following the exit of sponsor Kenya Power and Lighting Company in June but Jobita says they are in advanced talks with a new sponsor.

Some of the dependable players from Stima’s camp who have left to join rival teams are Kelvin Wesonga, Benson Omala, Samuel Njau and Sydney Otieno who have all joined Gor Mahia while Maurice Ojwang, goalkeeper Steven Odhiambo and highly rated midfielder Fidel Origa have followed Babu to Wazito.

Benson Omala signs for Gor Mahia.

Photo credit: Pool | Gor Mahia FC

Stima have also extended the contracts of goalkeeper Samuel "Abawa" Odhiambo and midfielder Baron Oketch by two years. Jobita says the club has also recruited local talented players from the Nyanza region.

“We have some investors who have come on board and helped us stabilise the team financially in addition to sponsorship from the federation (BetKing and StarTimes). I am sure when the league resumes, we'll have found a way out and financial constraints will be an issue of the past," added Jobita.

Ogai left Western Stima in April 2019 and later in July joined National Super League side Coast Stima as head coach. He is remembered for guiding the Kisumu-based side back to the KPL in 2018.