David Ouma ponders on architectural career after leaving Sofapaka

FKFPL David Ouma ponders on architectural career after leaving Sofapaka

Mark Kinyanjui 13:34 - 20.10.2023

Ouma was promoted to sporting director in July after serving as interim coach last season but called time on his second stint with Batoto ba Mungu last month.

Former Harambee Starlets head coach David Ouma has revealed he is pondering on reviving his architectural career after deciding to step aside from his role as Sofapaka's Sporting Director barely two months after he was deployed to the role.

Ouma, a largely experienced coach who has coached various club and national teams across different levels, returned to the team in 2021 after leaving his role as Harambee Starlets coach.

He took up the Sporting Director role initially, before taking the reins as coach until the end of the season last year, where he guided a youthful side engulfed in financial challenges to the quarter-finals of the FKF Cup as well as securing a top 10 finish.

“I returned to Sofapaka after leaving the federation as an educational officer and women’s coach after I had taken the team to the Nations Cup back in 2016,” Ouma told NTV

“Going back, the team had challenges that every team faces, especially the financial aspect because in the league, there were no sponsors, and neither did clubs across the division.

“I integrated younger players last season and of course, having finished in the top ten last season, the club wanted to win the title this year so as a coach given my understanding of Kenyan football, I was promoted to Sporting Director.”

The club hired Burundian tactician Francis Harigingo on a two-year deal but sacked him after a poor start to life in charge of the team.

Ouma had decided to step aside moments before in order to give Harigingo time to impose his own philosophy on the team. However, he says he was able to help the club achieve its club licensing objectives, which will not give them a hard time in the future.

“They brought in a new coach from Burundi. My aim as Sporting Director was to ensure we met our objectives in terms of club licensing. There is a sporting criteria that the federation looks at under CAF guidelines.

“I was able to prepare those documents at my level and made sure the club had documentation to be given a clean bill of health.

“In football, as a sporting director, you must look at the facilities, be the think tank in the management, support the technical staff and the administration.

“I am not saying I have quit as coach, but I decided to step aside and withdraw myself as the club’s director of football in order to give the coach a chance to explore his abilities.”

Ouma is exploring new options after deciding to take a “sabbatical” in order to recharge his batteries after a long time taking different hands-on roles in Kenyan football

"Since coming to the top level of coaching in 2002, I have dedicated my life to coaching daily in the KPL and since 2007, different national teams, U13, U17, women's national team, and even Harambee Stars under Bobby Williamson.

“Right now, I am not attached to anything. I am on sabbatical leave in order to reassess my career. I want to see if I still have a passion for football or venture into other things because apart from being a coach, people do not know that I am an architect as well.”

Tags: