James Nandwa: The pain I endured at Sony Sugar

The immediate former SoNy Sugar FC head coach James Nandwa has announced his desire to return to coaching barely three months after parting ways with relegated outfit.

The sugar millers were expelled from the Kenyan Premier League last year for failing to honour three top-tier matches, contrary to the rules.

And Nandwa who has been in the coaching cold since then says he’s ready to return to the dugout but has strong reservations about the financial state of the league with nearly every team owing players salary arrears.

“For now I’m okay and hoping to return to coaching after the break (caused by the relegation of SoNy Sugar). I remain positive,” he said, explaining that, “It was not easy going for three months without pay and leaving the club without a cent.”

Though they say that time heals, Nandwa knows too well the pain of working with no coin in the pocket and above all watching helplessly as your foot soldiers- the players- play on empty stomachs.

Nandwa, a soft-spoken coach and fine gentleman, is best remembered for guiding Ingwe to the Gotv Shield in 2013, and finishing second behind champions Gor Mahia in the league.

“It will be so hard and players will not be employed meaning that employment will be a thing of the past in the league.Clubs will have to use students if this problem persists,” he said in regards to the financial quagmire in the league.

In the run-up to their expulsion from the league, Sony gave a walkover to AFC Leopards, Tusker and Zoo FC.

“For us coaches and players, we will have to pray that a lasting solution is reached by the FKF (Football Kenya Federation) and the government which has the powers over the betting firms who have been of big help,”he noted