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Pamzo explains habit of taking jobs at relegation-threatened teams
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Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 26.05.26. | 10:00
The experienced tactician has successfully guided three teams to safety against all odds, with Posta being the biggest beneficiary
Long before the “survival specialist” tag began following him around the FKF Premier League touchlines, former Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo had already built a reputation as one of the few coaches willing to walk into chaos and attempt to restore order.
Now in charge of APS Bomet, the veteran tactician has finally opened up on why he continuously accepts jobs that many local coaches often avoid, battling relegation with struggling clubs fighting for their top-flight lives.
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Speaking in an interview with Mozzart Sport, Omollo admitted that the desire to silence doubters and prove his managerial credentials has remained the driving force behind his repeated rescue missions.
“What pushes me to take bottom-placed teams is always the motivation to prove my doubters wrong. But it is a challenge, and I love taking up such challenges because most Kenyan coaches fear them,” he said.
The former Kenya international’s reputation for steering troubled sides away from danger first gained widespread attention during his stint with Shabana FC in the club’s return season to the FKF Premier League.
Omollo arrived midway through the 2023-2024 campaign, with Shabana languishing second from the bottom of the standings and staring at an immediate return to the second tier.
Tasked with reviving a sinking side, the experienced coach immediately embarked on restructuring the squad by bringing in seasoned additions, including former Gor Mahia and Sofapaka FC goalkeeper Peter Odhiambo, Alvin Ochieng, Dimpol Omamo, Brian Odhiambo and Mathew Tegisi, among others.
The reinforcements quickly transformed the club’s fortunes.
Under Omollo, Shabana mounted a spirited escape from relegation, registering seven wins, three draws and seven defeats in the 17 matches he oversaw.
His reign began emphatically with a commanding 5-2 demolition of Nzoia Sugar FC before eventually sealing survival with a crucial 1-0 away victory over Murang'a Seal.
Shabana ultimately finished 14th on the table with 38 points.
Despite successfully guiding the Glamour Boys to safety, Omollo’s second spell at the club came to an end in October 2024 after a difficult start to the following campaign, where he failed to register a win in five matches, managing only two draws.
The seasoned tactician, however, quickly found himself back in familiar territory.
On January 15, 2025, Omollo returned to Posta Rangers for a third stint, once again inheriting a side deeply entangled in relegation trouble.
Although the Mailmen finished 16th and were forced into the relegation/promotion playoff, Pamzo successfully guided the club through the high-pressure fixture, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory over Naivas FC to preserve their top-flight status for the 2025/26 season. He also helped the club win the relegation playoff against the defunct Nairobi Stima in 2019.
His stay at Rangers was nevertheless short-lived.
The club later placed him on a 30-day terminal leave, which expired on December 31, 2025, effectively ending his third tenure with the side.
Barely days after leaving Posta Rangers, the former Harambee Stars defender was unveiled as the new head coach of league newcomers APS Bomet, another club battling for survival.
At the time of his appointment late in December, APS Bomet were rooted second from the bottom of the standings and looked destined for relegation.
Yet, in characteristic fashion, Omollo orchestrated another remarkable turnaround.
Since taking charge, the former Tusker FC title-winning coach has steadily moulded a disciplined and competitive side, overseeing seven victories and engineering a historic nine-match unbeaten run beginning March 14, the longest such streak in the club’s history since promotion.
The impressive run included four consecutive victories: a 2-0 triumph over Bandari FC, another 2-0 win against Mathare United, before back-to-back 1-0 victories over KCB FC and Sofapaka.
The resurgence propelled APS Bomet to 40 points and virtually guaranteed their safety for next season, with Omollo’s exploits further earning him the FKF Premier League Coach of the Month award for April.
His repeated ability to rescue struggling teams has now earned him the label “survival specialist” across local football circles, a tag that continues to define one of the most resilient coaching careers in Kenyan football.
Yet beyond survival battles, Omollo insists his ambitions stretch much further.
The former no-nonsense defender, who guided Tusker to the league title in 2011, revealed that his long-term objective is to once again challenge for the FKF Premier League crown, potentially with APS Bomet.
“Since I have won the league before with Tusker, my aim now is to achieve that feat again after several years. It could be anywhere, but I am aiming to do so with Bomet because I know and believe it is possible,” he added.