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Godfrey Oduor has exuded confidence in a successful tenure after he was appointed head coach of Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Nzoia Sugar.

Solo, as Oduor is famously known, returned to the club he last guided in 2019 before he left for KCB to replace Salim Babu, who left to join Police FC as Francis Baraza’s assistant.

Oduor confident

As he prepares to start a new chapter with the Sugar Millers, the former Kibera Black Stars coach maintains that he can register positive results with the Sudi Stadium-based club.

“My return is welcomed by the club, and I am happy. I understand the pressure that comes with my job, but I chose not to see that as pressure but as an opportunity to grow as a coach.

“When one chooses to focus on the pressure, that may make achieving set goals an impossible adventure, but seeing it as an opportunity to experience a new challenge is set to bring success.

“I am confident, and I look forward to a good time ahead.

His tenure as an assistant coach at KCB expired at the end of last season, and he left alongside Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno. When he ditched the Sugar Millers in 2019, he went to take up the assistant head coach position at KCB when he agreed to deputise Zico, who was coming from Gor Mahia.

His appointment at Nzoia means he has been given another opportunity to lead a top-flight club. But his task is expected to be challenging given that some players have left and given that Babu led the club to a fourth-place finish, pressure on the new coach will be huge.

“Those players who have left were key, but it is not a loss to the club. When good opportunities come, it is good for players to take them and experience a new environment. They also need opportunities to grow their careers.

“Those who have chosen to take new opportunities have left gaps to be filled, and I see the left places as chances for more players to come to Nzoia and launch their careers.

“We hope to have a successful campaign next season, and the players coming will also rise to the occasion and prove themselves,” he added.

Rebuilding Nzoia Sugar

Kevin Juma has joined Gor Mahia, Joseph Mwangi was unveiled at Tusker, and a number – understood to be around five – are expected to sign for AFC Leopards.

Among those set to join Ingwe are Humphrey Katasi, the joint Golden Glove winner in the 2022/23 season; others are Vincent Mahiga, a fullback; defender Randy Bakari; Hassan Beja, a forward; and Boniface Munyendo, a defensive midfielder. Ian Simiyu, a midfielder, is expected to leave the Sugar Millers, and Sofapaka is his possible destination.

As Oduor, who is also the Harambee Starlets’ head coach, takes over, he is expected to help the club rebuild weeks before the new season begins.

The players already linked with the Sugar Millers are former Vihiga Bullets Joseph Oyugi, a striker, and Derrick Tekkwo, a midfielder. 

Meanwhile, Nzoia Sugar started their pre-season with trials where they expected to get players to field positions left. The team has been under the guidance of assistant coach Peter Gin, who is also a player for the Bungoma club.