- 4 Bandari players demoted to youth team by new Moroccan head coach Mohamed Borji.
- The decision comes after the senior side’s embarrassing 2-3 friendly loss to the club’s Youth Team.
- Five youth players have been promoted to the senior team.
Newly appointed Bandari FC head coach Mohamed Borji has demoted four senior players to the Youth Team, stamping his authority as he sets his standards at the coastal-based side.
The decision comes directly in the wake of the senior side’s embarrassing 2-3 friendly loss to the club’s Youth Team on Thursday.
The players facing immediate demotion are Yusuf Ally, Alvin Ngoto, Ericson Mulu and Mohamed Barisa, with Borji emphasizing that indiscipline or poor performance will no longer be tolerated in training or during matches.
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Mulu joined Bandari at the start of the season from Mathare United alongside Yusuf who was signed from Murang’a Seal.
Barisa has been with the club since last season having joined from Nzoia Sugar last season, same to Ngoto who returned to the club after a six-month loan spell at Mombasa Stars.
The Moroccan has further promoted five youth players to the senior team with the promising talents immediately filling the vacated slots.
Abdhulrahman Miraj Abdhere, Erisat Orute, Shaban Mwachozi, Mbarak Musa and Ghalib Ali were all integrated into the senior team’s training session on Friday as the new coach rapidly shakes up the squad structure and monitors talent from within the club’s ranks.
“If a youth team player wins playing time in the senior team, he will earn a contract. But if a senior team player fails to make the matchday squad in the youth team, he will be released,” said Borji earlier today.
Borji will hope the immediate changes spark improvement for the Dockers, who currently sit 8th in the SportPesa League table with 5 points from their opening four matches.
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Despite possessing strong financial backing from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Bandari has a historical lack of domestic success, having never won a Kenyan Premier League title since its formation.
The Dockers’ most significant run was winning the FKF Cup in 2019, which earned them a spot in the CAF Confederations Cup.
In the 2019/2020 campaign, Bandari successfully navigated two rounds, eliminating Al Ahly Shendi of Sudan and Tunisian side US Ben Guerdane, before ultimately being knocked out by Horoya AC of Guinea in the Playoffs.
Bandari will now face Kenya Police at Mbaraki in their next fixture followed by Mara Sugar, Sofapaka, KCB and Bidco United in a run of fixtures that will gauge Borji’s start to life at the Mombasa-based club.
The former Moroccan player took over the coaching reigns from Ken Odhiambo and oversaw his first competitive match in the goalless draw against AFC Leopards on Wednesday at the Kasarani Stadium.
Who is the new Bandari head coach?
The 44-year-old Borji brings a wealth of experience from North Africa. During his playing career, he featured for several top Moroccan clubs including North Africa giants Wydad Casablanca, FAR Rabat and Difaa El Jadida before moving abroad for a short spell with Pahang FA in Malaysia.
After retiring from active football, he transitioned into coaching and has managed several sides in Morocco such as Renaissance Club Athletic Zemamra, Kasba Tadla, and COD Meknès.
He also served as an assistant coach at Moghreb Tétouan during the 2022-23 Botola Pro season.
The former FAR Rabat striker is yet to win a major trophy as a head coach but the coastal side will be hoping his experience as a player who has also managed development sides plays a big part in sailing the dockers ship in the turbulent waves at the Ocean.