FC Talanta head coach Jackline Juma has denied being under pressure to contain the poor start in the 2024-2025 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season.
Juma made history by becoming the first female coach to handle a team in the top tier after Talanta went for her expertise before the start of the season. She had a dream start in the season as she guided Talanta to the 2009 league champions Sofapaka but ever since the club hasn’t won another fixture.
SportsBoom reached out to Juma for a comment on the poor start in the season and how she has been coping with life in the top tier as a female coach.
I AM NOT UNDER PRESSURE
Two coaches have already paid the price of having difficult starts in the season with a handful of other tacticians living dangerously as their teams are still struggling for rhythm. Ken Kenyatta and Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo were the first casualties in the season as the experienced coaches were relieved of their duties at Kakamega Homeboyz and Shabana respectively.
The run of results at Talanta was expected to be a source of sleepless nights for Juma but she insists that it is just a matter of time before the Talanta vessel stabilises. The CAF A license holder says that much as the results are of concern to her, she notes that the team has been making progress in the right direction and efforts are being made to register positive results.
“I am not under pressure at all. Of course, I had hoped for a better start but sometimes football is like that. As a team, we know she shouldn’t be where we are on the log. We also know that the results do not reflect our quality and how we have been playing. I am, however, confident that we will overcome the difficult spell,” she said.
Reflecting on her early days in the top tier, Juma said she is enjoying every bit of top-flight coaching and is determined to achieve the laid objectives.
“Of course, I didn’t expect it to be easy as football is a competitive sport. When I came in as head coach at Talanta, I made it clear that I was offering my expertise and knowledge just like any other coach and gender should not be an issue. I am liking the challenge and looking forward to getting the best out of the team,” she said.
WHY TALANTA ARE STRUGGLING
Juma attributed the club’s slow start in the season to injuries to influential players in the team. She revealed that; Edwin Jumba, Leon Ombiji, Castro Ogendo, George Ouma, Bernard Odhiambo and December Kisaka were all carrying injuries.
Initially, Lucas Boke was on the list of injured players but the former Vihiga Bullets and Chemelil Sugar midfielder has since recovered. She will have to do without the services of Ogendo and Ouma for the better part of the season as the duo is expected to go under the knife.
“I think we are the most affected team when it comes to injuries. It is not easy when you miss more than five key players. I commend the team for the fight they have put in their absence,” she opened up.
The former Harambee Starlets left back also blamed tough luck for the awful run in the early weeks of the season. She lamented that the results were not reflective of their hard work and the effort the team had been putting on the pitch.
“We have been unlucky at times. The team has been giving its best on the pitch only for the results to go the other way. We have twice dropped points from a winning position but we are working to improve,” she stated.
TOP FIVE FINISH STILL POSSIBLE
Despite the slow start, the former Mathare Women Football Club player is confident of inspiring Talanta to a top-five finish at the end of the season.
When she was appointed, Juma told SportsBoom that her aim was to transform Talanta from relegation candidates to a competitive outfit. She says the challenges experienced early in the season will not force her to amend or abandon her plan and targets.
“I still hold to the belief that the team is good enough to finish in the top five. It is too early to panic,” she added.
