Ssimbwa has Europe as final destination

Mar 23, 2010

COACH Sam Ssimbwa has said that his move to Kenyan Champions Sofapaka is the beginning of a trek for him to launch a career in Europe.

By Swalley Kenyi

COACH Sam Ssimbwa has said that his move to Kenyan Champions Sofapaka is the beginning of a trek for him to launch a career in Europe.

The 45-year old tactician, who quit KCC FC just after nine months last week, starts a one-year contract with Sofapaka on Monday.

He is expected to revive fortunes of the team founded with former street children.

The side is currently lying at the bottom of the Kenyan Premier League having managed a single win, a draw and three losses so far. They are also out of the CAF Champions League, having fallen to Egypt’s Ismailia.

Ssimbwa had earlier told the FUFA website that he would maintain his role as Cranes first assistant. In an interview yesterday, he vowed not look back to Ugandan clubs.

“Ugandan clubs are the same. The reasons I quit the league here have been the same and I might not coach here again except as a national coach. I’m looking at Europe. I can’t say which country but that is my dream,” Ssimbwa, who has won several local silverware, said.

Ssimbwa, who has coached a string of clubs in Uganda and Rwanda believes the move to Sofapaka could be a turning point in his close to 15 years coaching experience. He was tagged by Rwandan fans as ‘Mourinho’ for sharing common antics with Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

“I think it was a coincidence of the Mourinho glory days (at Chelsea) that coincided with the emergence of Atraco in Rwanda,” Ssimbwa told the FUFA website.

Like Mourinho, Ssimbwa has found himself in trouble several times with soccer fans, fellow coaches and football governing bodies for various reasons. His departure to Sofapaka comes at a time when he is yet to pay a fine of sh900000 to FUFA for verbal attacks on referees during a league match.

“It (fine) is one of the reasons I quit the league. I did not want to complain but I don’t see any wrong I did. Maybe they will wait for me to return to the league,” Ssimbwa added sarcastically.

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