On November 15 afternoon, Mara Sugar FC fans were left in shock when news broke that their technical director former Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards striker had parted ways with the club.

Ambani’s departure, announced in a terse statement by the debutants, provided no reasons for the sudden move, fueling speculation across the football fraternity.

Three days after the announcement, Ambani finally broke his silence, offering his version of events in what he termed «Episode One» of his journey with Mara Sugar FC.

Gor Mahia captain Philemon Otieno and goalkeeper Gad Mathews want to bounce back to winning ways against AFC Leopards as Ingwe host K’Oglao in the Mashemeji derby on Sunday.

In a social media post, he blamed internal wrangles and accused unnamed individuals of attempting to take over the club’s operations.

“I think I’ve been trending for the past two or three days after Mara Sugar announced that they have parted ways with Boniface Ambani. I wasn’t shocked,” said Ambani

“It’s funny—I had lost my two phones. So when things were happening, I didn’t know exactly what was going on. It was only after I got wind of it and decided to call my wife that she told me, ‘You’re trending.’ I asked her, ‘Why am I trending?’ She said, ‘Mara Sugar has parted ways with you.’ I just laughed it off because I knew exactly… I knew this was coming.”

Ambani’s shock exit comes after a remarkable rise for Mara Sugar FC, who ascended from grassroots football to the FKF Premier League as 2023-2024 National Super League champions.

Ailing former AFC Leopards coach Jan Koops faces severe health challenges while struggling with unpaid dues from the football club.

Despite being league newcomers, the Kilgoris-based team have been a revelation, sitting third on the table with 11 points from six matches.

Recalling his entry into Mara Sugar, Ambani described a journey filled with challenges and determination.

“Here’s a bit of history. I was managing Sindo United, and it was doing well. Things went as they did, and I had to leave Sindo, mainly due to financial constraints. So I quit Sindo and continued with my own pursuits. Then one guy called Tom (rest in peace) contacted me,” Ambani revealed.

“Tom told me they had a team called Mara Sugar in Division Two, and they wanted to make changes and move forward. I asked him, ‘Are they ready to work?’ Because when I go somewhere, I know what I want.”

Turkish gaffer Engin Firat has been unconvincing in the three years at the helm and Harambee Stars legend Dennis Oliech wants Kenya to go a different direction.

Ambani’s initial journey to Mara Sugar was far from smooth. Mistaking Mara for being closer to Trans-Nzoia, he embarked on a confusing road trip that eventually landed him deep in the Transmara region.

“I didn’t even know where Mara Sugar was. The guy had to give me directions. Before I left Kakamega, I thought Mara was somewhere near Trans-Nzoia,” he said.

“In the morning, I called Tom and asked, ‘Before I leave, where should I be going?’ He said, ‘You have to come to Kisii.’ Kisii?!”

Despite the rough start, Ambani quickly set about restructuring the team, from reshuffling the coaching staff to improving the players’ performance.

“When I reached Mara, I asked who the head coach was. They told me the team didn’t have a head coach at the time. There were two coaches, Don and Biko, who were both acting as head coaches. I asked, ‘Where has that ever happened? Two head coaches in one team? No way. It doesn’t work like that.’”

Engin Firat exuded confidence after Kenya topped their AFCON qualification group, sending a warning to Andre Onana and Cameroon, but once results went haywire, he became defensive.

Ambani’s leadership bore fruit, transforming Mara Sugar into a competitive side.

However, his dismissal underscores unresolved tensions within the club.

While Ambani has begun sharing his perspective, Mara Sugar FC remains silent on the matter, leaving fans and football enthusiasts eagerly awaiting further disclosures.

For now, Ambani’s revelations have added fuel to the intrigue surrounding his abrupt exit with questions over who the “quacks” he referenced might be and what this saga means for the club’s future.

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