Akhulia: “We have learnt important lessons in the top tier”

Bidco United head coach Anthony Akhulia acknowledges that life in the top tier Football Kenya Federation Premier League has offered important lessons for his team.

As at suspension of the league last month, the newcomers were an impressive ninth on the log with 21 points off 16 matches.

Their star man Eric Gichimu was at the time top scorer with four goals to his name in what has been a successful campaign for the debutants according to Akhulia who has been with the club for seven years now.

“The season is not yet over but I am more than happy with how we have fared. There was the anxiety of how we could cope with more experienced sides in the championship in our first season.

I want to thank my players for showing a good fight in the first leg because the maturity levels grew a notch.

We learnt lessons like not being complacent, taking our chances and playing for each other and the team.

Those are crucial lessons that any club in the top tier must identify with. Of course hopefully if the league resumes, we will look at finishing higher,” said Akhulia, also known by his peers as Vieira.

The Thika-based side has had two windows to bring on board key players like Stephen Waruru, Peter Nzuki and Omar Adisa who have given the team some kind of identity. It is one thing Coach Akhulia seeks to keep and move onwards with.

“The top tier needs some kind of consistency and a given philosophy. I believe we have players in camp who can help us achieve a higher target.

Most teams in the premiership are well prepared and so for us it is about ensuring we improve on all fronts from training to competition.

We are here to show fight and not add numbers,” added Akhulia who is proud of his own personal achievement as an up-and-coming coach.

At the same time Akhulia has urged the government to allow resumption of sports so that the players don’t get rusty.

“I can understand the situation with Covid-19 and government restrictions but players need to play and take care of their families.

In any case for the situation of active players who are always training and keeping fit, it is harder to contract the virus. However I thank the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sports plus the federation for organising vaccination so therefore we need to resume business. 

The suspension cut off our momentum just like other teams which means we have to start from the bottom again,” quipped Akhulia.