Selebwa lifts lid on shock Mombasa United exit amid promotion row
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 20.04.26. | 08:05
At the time of his dismissal, Mombasa United were joint top of the table on 58 points alongside Migori Youth
Former Mombasa United head coach Gilbert Selebwa has broken his silence following his abrupt dismissal, alleging that internal disagreements over huge promises played a key role in his sacking despite the club’s strong push for promotion.
Speaking in an interview with Radio 47, the seasoned tactician claimed his exit was not purely performance-based, but rather linked to commitments made by the club’s hierarchy.
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He believes the club was unwilling to honor their promise as promotion to the top tier drew closer.
Selebwa, a former AFC Leopards coach, was relieved of his duties last week in a decision that raised eyebrows across the local football scene, coming at a time when Mombasa United were enjoying one of their most successful runs in recent history.
Central to his claims is an alleged verbal agreement between himself and the club, promising a brand new car valued at Ksh 3 million should he guide the team to their maiden promotion to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League(FKFPL).
“Verbally, they promised me a brand new car if I led the team to the Premier League, and we were firmly on course to achieve that. In hindsight, I believe my sacking was influenced by the fact that promotion was within reach and I would have been entitled to a car worth three million,” Selebwa revealed.
“They also made it clear in the contract that their objective was promotion, and we agreed on a separate substantial financial bonus should that be achieved.”
At the time of his dismissal, Mombasa United were joint top of the table on 58 points alongside Migori Youth FC, underlining the remarkable progress achieved under his leadership and further intensifying speculation surrounding the timing of his departure.
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Despite the club maintaining that the decision was arrived at following a routine performance review, Selebwa’s revelations paint a contrasting picture, one of internal tensions overshadowing on-pitch success.
During his seven-month tenure, the experienced coach oversaw an impressive run of results, registering 19 wins, one draw, and eight defeats in 28 matches, a record that had firmly placed the coastal side on course for historic promotion.
Selebwa, who has previously handled sides such as Hoha, Luanda, and the now-defunct Samwest BlackBoots, now departs Mombasa United with his reputation intact, albeit under a cloud of controversy.