By Kimathi Kamau
NAIROBI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Dennis Kitambi quit as the head coach of the struggling Kenyan football giants AFC Leopards SC on Wednesday evening over what he termed "belittling demotion" after being appointed the Team Manager.
His inglorious exit capped a turbulent 24 hours for the 12-time domestic league champions, who hit local headlines on Wednesday when news filtered through that they had fired their goal-keeper trainer, Kenyan Alex Mwangi, through a phone text.
Another local, Tony Lidonde was also fired as Team Manager as the club's Executive held a crisis meeting on Monday night in a bid to address their poor form that has seen them slump to 12th in the Kenyan Premier League standings after 15 games.
Kitambi who joined the club at the recommendation of Englishman Stewart Hall was then named to fill Lidonde's position but the Tanzanian had enough, announcing his decision to resign as the club plunged into fresh crisis.
"That is an outright demotion! I'm a coach and not some team manager," Kitambi told a local website when contacted over his decision.
Leopards who have won the regional CECAFA Club Championships five times have endured a dreadful season by their high standards and have already hired three coaches this year.
Briton Hall started the campaign in charge but resigned over 'family reasons' in May before the club hired former Eritrea national team coach, Dorian Marin.
However, Marin left the position after only 13 days amid complaints from players and fellow technical bench colleagues about his high-handedness.
Leopards then turned to former Kenyan international, Tom Juma and after two league games without a win, the club is in the process of bringing in two-time league winner Robert Matano.
According to club sources, the arrival of Matano meant Juma would step down to the assistant coaching role and to accommodate Kitambi, club bosses decided to offer him the Team Manager's position.
That was however, not enough for the tactician who opted to hand in his resignation.
Kitambi led the team to the finals of the eight-team knockout SportPesa Super Cup tournament in Tanzania last month before handing over to Marin during the June 11 decider.
Leopards went on to lose 3-0 to domestic arch rivals Gor Mahia who will play English Premier League side Everton FC in Dar-es-Salaam on July 13 for lifting the trophy.
