- Three of the finest tacticians in Kenya’s top flight have been nominated for the prestigious SportPesa League Coach of the Season award.
- Charles Akonnor, Fred Ambani, and Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo will battle it out for the top coaching honour.
- The winner of the SportPesa League Coach of the Year award will be unveiled on June 4 during the Gala Night at the Glee Hotel in Nairobi.
Three of Kenya’s finest top-flight tacticians have been nominated for the prestigious 2025/26 SportPesa League Coach of the Season award.
Charles Akonnor, Fred Ambani and Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo are the candidates set to battle for the honor at the return of the SportPesa League Gala night scheduled for 4 June 2026.
Charles Akonnor – Gor Mahia – P33, W20, D1, L4
Having taken over the Kenyan giants at the beginning of the season, Akonnor has really led Gor to a solid campaign throughout the term, helping the team reclaim the title for a record 22nd time in his first season of asking.
The former Ghana national team head coach began his tenure with a loss against Bidco United, then enjoyed a good run before meeting his fate with back-to-back defeats against APS Bomet and AFC Leopards in the first leg of the Mashemeji Derby.
His fourth loss came just in this final stretch when he visited Tusker FC in Wang’uru where they lost that encounter.
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Despite the few setbacks, his side boasts a remarkable 61% win rate.
Under his watch Gor Mahia have scored 50 goals this season, spearheaded by midseason signing Ebenezer Assifuah, who has netted seven goals -the same tally as the injured Felix Oluoch. Shariff Musa and Ebenezer Adkwah have each contributed six goals.
Their defense, led by Sylvester Owino, Bryton Onyona, Frank Odhiambo, and Mike Kibwage, has also been solid, as they have conceded the second-fewest goals in the league with 21, only behind Kenya Police FC, who have let in 20. Goalkeepers Byrne Omondi and Gad Mathews have also combined for 16 clean sheets.
Akonnor is among the gaffers who have been nominated several times for the SportPesa Coach of the Month awards, which were introduced late in October last year.
Among the only four coaches to have won it, he has bagged it twice; first in the inaugural month of October 2025, before reclaiming it in January 2026.
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Fred Ambani – AFC Leopards – P33, W19, D7, L7
Since taking over in November 2024 following the departure of Thomas Trucha, Ambani has been a sensational figure for the Ingwe side. This season, he even made them hope for the title until they let it slip in the final stretch.
His winning rate stands at 58% in the 33 matches he has overseen so far, with 19 wins, seven losses, and being held seven times -including three consecutive draws at the beginning of the season.
In attack, Ambani has seen his side score just seven goals fewer than champions Gor Mahia, finding the back of the net 43 times, led by their imported striker Samwel Ssenyonjo, who has managed to score seven goals this season.
Their defense has not been as strong, as they have conceded 26 goals, but custodians Humphrey Katasi and James Ssetuba have kept 15 clean sheets.
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He is also among the only four coaches to win the Coach of the Month crown, he has bagged it twice; first in December 2025, before reclaiming it in March 2026.
Beyond numbers Ambani, has managed to lead Ingwe to a second-place finish this season – a spot they have not occupied for a long time.
In the last two seasons (23/24) they finished fifth with just 51 points, while in 24/25 they ended with the same points but in sixth place.
Thus, finishing with 64 points or more (as they still have a game to play) is a milestone he has guided the team to.
Sammy Omollo – Posta Rangers – P19, W8, D6, L5
Pamzo took over APS Bomet back in December, but his official start was in January, where he has overseen 19 matches with a 42%-win rate.
Pamzo’s run includes guiding the league debutants from the relegation zone to safety for next season.
They have gone 10 matches without a defeat, with seven consecutive wins including the recent one where they beat AFC Leopards to dash their title hopes.
His side has scored 23 goals while conceding 16, with nine clean sheets.
Pamzo, this is now the third club he has saved from relegation, starting with Shabana FC in 2024, while in 2025 he managed to save Posta Rangers, and now APS Bomet.
He became only the fourth coach to win the SportPesa League Coach of the Month award, taking it in April 2026 and joining the list of Ambani, Akonnor, and former Shabana coach Peter Okidi.
Currently sitting in 12th place, Pamzo could finish as high as seventh this season, as they still have a game to play.
The winner of the SportPesa League Coach of the Year will be announced on June 4 during the Gala Night at the Glee Hotel in Nairobi, where other standout performers will also be awarded: including the Player of the Year gong, Golden Boot, Team of the Season, and the Golden Glove.