Kenya Police FC head coach Ndayiragije vows to steer the team to their first local title
![Kenya Police FC head coach Ndayiragije vows to steer the team to their first local title](https://peopledaily.digital/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FotoJet-61-768x528.jpg)
Kenya Police FC head coach Etienne Ndayiragije has warned Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League title rivals that they are competing to win the title this season.
A season which looked to be slipping away following a poor start to the campaign which saw the law enforcers rooted at the bottom of the 18-team table, has been turned around following the arrival of the Burundian tactician.
Ndayiragije joined Police, who were languishing at the bottom of the table, with only one win to show for it from eight matches. His arrival was the turning point as Police went ahead to win their first five matches under his watch.
He started off with a resounding 3-1 win against Nairobi City Stars, 1-0 win against promoted Mara Sugar, 3-0 win against Bidco United, 1-0 win against Gor Mahia and 1-0 win against FC Talanta.
After the Talanta game, they drew 1-1 against Kakamega Homeboyz, beat Posta Rangers 3-2, beat Murang’a Seal 1-0, and defeated Bandari 3-0 before edging out Mara Sugar 1-0 in their last assignment.
The outcome, which has seen Police remain unbeaten in the last nine matches under the Burundian coach, has seen a team that was fighting against relegation, ascend to the top of the table with 36 points, the same number of points as second-placed Tusker, but they have a better goal difference.
“Why not? I am here to fight and win the league, I couldn’t be here if I didn’t want to win the title. We want to fight and win every game lined up for us, and we are here to fight, for every point, nothing is impossible, we have shown we can win matches, so we must stay focused and keep winning our matches,” Ndayiragije told Flashscore when asked about the prospects of winning the title.
“I didn’t come here to lose, I didn’t come here to waste time, I signed a contract with Police and winning the league for the club is included in the contract. If we win the league, we know what the Police management will do for me, I don’t have to tell you, but we have it written in the contract.”
He added: “I don’t mind if they (management) decide to build a statue (in my honour) if we achieve (winning the league), it is upon the team to decide. But again, in football if you win the league it ends there, nothing happens, and you focus again for the new season, so winning the league is part of our work.”
Ndayiragije, who has coached Burundi national team the Swallows, and in Tanzania where he was in charge of Azam FC, further explained what has helped him to turn around the club’s fortunes.
“For us, every game in the league is very important, we have to focus on winning every game, even the next game is important, so we have fixed our focus to tackle each and every game with our mind set on winning it,” offered Ndayiragije.
He continued: “What impresses me most is the fact that my players are getting better and better each and every game, and the management has pushed us, they have done their part which is very good, we have a CEO, who is very active, this work is not a one man show, but teamwork.”