Bungoma Superstars Football Club has officially welcomed Ibrahim Shikanda back as their Head Coach.
The 39-year-old who has been without a team since leaving Kakamega Homeboyz four months ago, returns to Bungoma Superstars after a four-year hiatus since his previous stint with the club. In 2019, he departed for KPL side Bandari FC, where he served as an assistant coach.
Shikanda was unveiled to the players and fans on Wednesday morning and immediately took charge of his first training.
That feeling… pic.twitter.com/dxAtDn4KAS
— BungomaSuperstarsFC (@BgmSuperStarsFC) October 18, 2023
The club made the exciting announcement through a statement posted on their official Facebook and X pages.
Eng. Denis Simiyu, the Club Patron, expressed his anticipation for Shikanda’s leadership and revealed that the new Head Coach would commence his duties immediately.
“We are delighted to announce the return of Coach Ibrahim Shikanda to Bungoma Superstars Football Club. When Shikanda was here, the team performed well and his first assignment will be Saturday’s away fixture at St Joseph’s FC in Nakuru. We will give him all the support he needs,” Eng. Simiyu stated.
Shikanda, a former Harambee Stars International player, brings an impressive resume to Bungoma Superstars. His experience as a player includes time at Tusker FC and Mumias Sugar FC.
Moreover, Shikanda has honed his coaching skills, managing Kenya Premier League sides like Nzoia Sugar FC and Kakamega Homeboyz. The club’s management is optimistic that his rich experience will be instrumental in their pursuit of promotion to the National Super League (NSL).
This appointment comes in the wake of Bungoma Superstars’ recent home fixture against Vegpro FC, which concluded in a goalless draw. The pressure on the club’s management had mounted after their season opener ended in a 1-0 defeat to Transfoc in Kitale.
During the Vegpro match, a segment of the home supporters could be heard chanting slogans like “tunataka coach mpya, tunataka coach mpya mwenye anaheshimu team,” which translates to “we want a new coach, we want a new coach who respects the club.”
Team Manager Edwin Simiyu extended a warm welcome to Ibrahim Shikanda, highlighting the coach’s dedication to his work and his ability to connect with players.
“I have worked with Shikanda here for a year, and I know how passionate he is about his work, his rapport with the players, and his respect for the fans, players, and supporters. I welcome him back,” Simiyu stated.
Shikanda’s coaching journey extends to his role as an assistant coach at Azam FC in Tanzania for five years, ending in 2013. Additionally, he steered NSL side Nairobi Stima to an impressive fourth-place finish, narrowly missing the playoffs by just a single point.
With the return of Ibrahim Shikanda to the helm, Bungoma Superstars Football Club aims to reinvigorate its performance and pursue its quest for promotion to the National Super League with renewed vigor. The fans and supporters eagerly anticipate the coach’s impact on the team’s future endeavors.