Former Tusker head coach tips Pamzo for Coach of the Season award
Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 02.06.26. | 22:00
Omollo took charge of Bomet on December 31, 2025, replacing Michael Naam at a time when the club's survival hopes appeared increasingly slim
Pamba Jiji head coach Francis Baraza has tipped APS Bomet tactician Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo as his Coach of the Season, citing the experienced trainer's remarkable transformation of the club's fortunes during the just-concluded FKF Premier League campaign.
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In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, the former Harambee Stars defender pointed to Omollo's impressive rescue mission at APS Bomet, where he transformed a side deeply entrenched in the relegation battle into one of the league's most consistent performers, ultimately guiding the debutants to a historic top-half finish in their maiden season in the top flight.
According to Baraza, Omollo's ability to solidify a previously vulnerable defence, instil a winning mentality and steer the club away from relegation danger makes him the standout coach of the campaign.
Omollo took charge of Bomet on December 31, 2025, replacing Michael Naam at a time when the club's survival hopes appeared increasingly slim.
The Law Enforcers were second from bottom in the standings with just 13 points from 14 matches and were widely tipped as one of the favourites for relegation.
The former Posta Rangers coach endured a difficult start to life in Bomet, collecting only six points from his opening nine matches in charge.
However, what followed was one of the most remarkable managerial turnarounds witnessed in the league this season.
Under his stewardship, the Law Enforcers evolved from a struggling outfit with one of the league's leakiest defences into a disciplined and resilient unit capable of competing with the country's elite sides.
The transformation was best reflected in an outstanding 11-match unbeaten run during which Bomet won seven matches and drew four.
The streak not only became the club's longest unbeaten run in history but also ranked among the finest sequences recorded in the league this season.
Baraza further noted that Omollo's credentials were reinforced by APS Bomet's ability to consistently rise to the occasion against some of the league's established heavyweights.
Under his stewardship, Bomet claimed a memorable 2-1 victory over 12-time league champions AFC Leopards, edged out KCB FC 1-0, registered an impressive 2-0 triumph over Bandari FC and secured hard-fought 1-0 victories against four-time champions Ulinzi Stars and 2008 league winners Mathare United.
For a side competing in its maiden top-flight campaign, such results highlighted the scale of the transformation engineered under Omollo's leadership.
By the end of the season, Omollo had overseen the collection of 31 points, with Bomet scoring 24 goals and conceding just 17.
The impressive return enabled the club to finish on 44 points in 10th place, a remarkable achievement for a side competing in the Premier League for the first time.
Baraza believes those achievements deserve greater recognition, especially when viewed against the resources available to some of the league's traditional heavyweights.
"He walked into a team that many had already written off and felt would not survive or find a way out of the relegation zone," said Baraza.
"However, he accepted a challenge that many considered almost impossible and transformed them into one of the best-performing teams during the final phase of the season, turning a leaking defence into one of the meanest in the league, registering nine clean sheets under his watch and contributing to a total of 12 for the club.
He created a winning culture which was evident in their historic 11-match unbeaten run."
"Undeniably, he transformed APS Bomet from relegation candidates into a team that comfortably secured its Premier League status and finished tenth in the standings."
"Despite Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards enjoying greater resources and stability, I believe the work done at Bomet deserves serious consideration.
They are a new club, had limited resources, endured a turbulent start to the season and still managed to compete with and beat some of the country's top teams.
For me, that is a coaching performance worthy of immense praise," added the 2006 league title-winning coach with Sony Sugar.
Interestingly, Baraza's endorsement comes at a time when Omollo has been nominated for the FKF Premier League Coach of the Season award.
The experienced tactician will battle it out for the coveted accolade alongside Gor Mahia's Charles Akonnor and AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani.
Akonnor guided Gor Mahia to the league title in his maiden season at both the club and Premier League level, while Ambani masterminded AFC Leopards' impressive campaign that culminated in a second-place finish.
With all three coaches boasting strong credentials, the race for the season's top individual coaching honour promises to be one of the most keenly contested categories.
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However, for Baraza, Omollo's extraordinary rescue mission at APS Bomet stands above the rest.