Harambee Stars legend explains why he turned down Mara Sugar coaching role
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 04.05.26. | 18:02
In October 2023, the former Administration Police head coach had just left AFC Leopards following a difficult spell that ended after a 2-0 loss to Gor Mahia in the season’s first Mashemeji Derby
Harambee Stars legend and former AFC Leopards head coach Tom Juma has finally opened up on why he turned down a coaching role at FKF Premier League side Mara Sugar FC two years ago.
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Despite strong links between the club and the former league-winning tactician, Juma opted against taking up the role at a time when the Sugar Millers were pushing for promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history.
In October 2023, the former Administration Police head coach had just left AFC Leopards following a difficult spell that ended after a 2-0 loss to Gor Mahia in the season’s first Mashemeji Derby.
Despite enjoying support from the club hierarchy, Juma struggled to turn around Ingwe’s fortunes, managing four draws and two defeats in six matches without registering a win.
The former Kenya international departed with Leopards stuck in the relegation zone, with Tomas Trucha later coming in to help steer the club away from danger.
Goalkeepers’ trainer Lawrence Webo and physiotherapist Bonaventure Odire also left the club during that turbulent period.
At the same time, Mara Sugar were battling Mathare United for promotion from the second tier, but suddenly found themselves without a head coach after Francis Xavier resigned to join Sofapaka as an assistant coach.
Coach Vincent Nyaberi was then brought in to steady the ship, but his stay lasted only a few days before he left to join Mully Children's Family (MCF).
It was during this period that then Mara Sugar technical director Bonface Ambani approached his longtime friend and former teammate Juma over the possibility of joining the Millers’ technical bench.
While everything initially appeared to be heading in the right direction, the move eventually collapsed after Bernard Wanjala returned to guide the club through the remainder of the campaign.
Although reports at the time suggested that the financial package offered to the veteran coach was not convincing enough, the ex-Ingwe team manager has now revealed that family commitments and the need for a mental break from football played a huge role in his decision.
“There was a big connection between Mara Sugar and me at that time. I think the current AFC Leopards chairman was the technical director there then, so he approached me, and we discussed many things,” Juma told Mozzart Sport.
He added, “Again, I have a family here in Nairobi, and there are a lot of things that I do, so it was very difficult for me to move to that region at that time.”
Juma further explained that Ambani fully understood his decision to decline the opportunity.
“But I spoke to him, and he understood my situation. Just like you say, there was a very big chance of me joining Mara Sugar.
I also wanted to take some time away from football because I did not want to leave one difficult situation and move straight into another one. I just needed time to rest and reflect on everything that had happened.”
Mara Sugar would eventually secure promotion to the FKF Premier League, while Juma stayed away from active football for some time before resurfacing with USIU in university games.
This year, the former Harambee Stars man returned to the touchline after joining National Super League (NSL) side Kibera Black Stars as an assistant coach.