Logarusic and Jan Koops: new kids on the block?

When Dutchman Jan Koops took over as Coach at AFC Leopards in 2011, the club was rooted to the bottom of the Kenya Premier League log. After only a few matches, even the most die hard skeptics were convinced that change had arrived at Ingwe. By the time the final whistle of the 2011 season was blown, Koops' boys were smugly perched in the top five section of the log.

In fact, such was the Dutchman's tremendous influence at the club that between July 2011 and April 2012, he masterminded an incredible 23-match winning streak.

Several weeks into the 2012 season, Gor realised they had to do a "Jan Koops"of their own. The club had ended the 2011 season unsatisfactorily and began the new one even more dismally, causing the sacking of Coaches Zedekiah "Zico" Otieno and Cameroonian Anaba Awono in the process.

By the time Croat Zdravko Logarusic smelt opportunity and caught the next available plane to Nairobi from Ghana, KÓgalo were flirting with relegation, just like Ingwe had only a few months earlier.

Well, the stories of these two Kenyan football power houses have since turned so rosy that their fans are again bragging about their chances of winning the Kenyan Premier League.

So what changed so drastically to alter the clubs' fortunes for good? Is it the the tactical prowess of the foreign coaches or their freedom from the tribalism, clanism and nepotism that so poisons Kenya's football?

From the attractive styles, enthusiasm and effectiveness being displayed by the clubs, one can confidently say that both cases apply. Clearly, the way players have either been offloaded or recruited at the clubs indicate that players' technical abilities are being considered above every thing else.

It is for this reason that a player like Collins Okoth who previously considered himself untouchable at Gor Mahia had no option but to quit the club. It is for the same reason that an almost entire squad was shown the door at AFC Leopards to create space for the desired kind of players.

It is also for the same reason that we have witnessed several high calibre transfers such as Eric Masika's move from Gor Mahia to AFC Leopards and Burundi international Floribert Ndayisaba's Ksh 1.3 million move from Rayon Sport of Rwanda to Leopards.

Listening to the Tacticians' statements in the local media, one cannot fail to notice their passion for realisation of a technically superior brand of football in the country. Croat Logarusic was recently quoted appealing for efforts to refine the abundantly talented Kenyan youth.

“There are thousands of talented young players in the country and they need to be nurtured since Kenya has great potential,” he said.

“The tempo is one thing that should be improved since the standards are way down (3-4 M/H) compared to what they do in Europe (7-8 M/H) but that can be improved.”  said the bald headed Croat.

On his part, Jan Koops revealed a number of secrets that he would rely upon to transform Leopards when he took over at the then struggling East African giants. 

‘There is no secret, I like to play ball possession, discipline in the team is important; one touch football, technical players. I like to talk to every player, if they have a problem...I like to be their friend but with a respectable distance so that they can respect me and I respect them,’ said Koops.

A year later, all these can be seen manifesting themselves as Ingwe confidently march towards a possible Kenya Premier League crown after such a long absence.  

It is with interventions such as these by clubs across the board that footballing standards in Kenya will rise to place the country in the position of the footballing pyramid that she so rightly deserves.