Kenyan football mourns veteran coach Juma Abdalla

The Kenyan football fraternity is in mourning following the death of veteran coach Juma Abdalla, who passed away in the early hours of Friday, 24 July, after a prolonged battle with illness.

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According to the family, Abdalla will be laid to rest later on Friday at around 4:00 pm in Murang'a Town in accordance with Islamic rites.

His death comes just weeks after family and friends appealed to well-wishers for financial support to help cater for his treatment after he was diagnosed with diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

His condition had deteriorated significantly in recent months, leaving him unable to walk.

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Abdalla leaves behind a rich coaching legacy spanning more than two decades, during which he earned widespread respect for his ability to nurture young talent and build competitive teams across the Kenyan top flight.

Throughout his managerial career, he took charge of Thika United, Chemelil Sugar, Bidco United, KCB, Western Stima, FC Talanta, Murang'a Seal, and Sofapaka, while also serving as assistant coach at AFC Leopards.

His name became synonymous with Thika United, where he enjoyed one of the most successful spells of his career between the early 2000s and 2012.

During that period, he built an exciting youthful side and handed opportunities to several players who would later establish themselves in Kenyan football.

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Under his guidance, Thika United finished third in the 2009 Kenya Premier League season, an achievement made even more remarkable by the club's reliance on young homegrown players.

His impressive work at Thika earned him a move to KCB, where he continued to make history. In the 2013 season, he guided the Bankers to a fourth-place finish, then the club's highest ever league finish.

That memorable campaign also produced one of the season's biggest talking points when KCB stunned newly crowned champions Gor Mahia 2-0 on the day K'Ogalo were celebrating their first league title in 13 years.

Abdalla's outstanding work that season saw him crowned Coach of the Year.

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His final coaching assignment came at Sofapaka, where he was appointed head coach in February 2026 following the departure of Ezekiel Akwana. However, he quietly stepped away from the role a month later as his health worsened.

Beyond the trophies and results, Abdalla will be remembered as a humble mentor whose commitment to developing players and serving Kenyan football left an enduring mark on the game.

All of us at Mozzart Sport extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and the entire Kenyan football fraternity following the passing of coach Juma Abdalla. May his soul rest in eternal peace.