Veteran Kenyan tactician Yusuf “Chipo” has made yet another return to Tanzanian football, taking charge of newly promoted Mtibwa Sugar FC.
The former Murang’a Seal head coach, who parted ways with the Kenyan side in August, now becomes the third Kenyan currently coaching in Tanzania, alongside Francis Baraza of Pamba Jiji and Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno of Tanzania Prisons.
Chipo, a holder of a CAF A coaching license, brings with him decades of experience across club and national team setups.
His coaching résumé stretches from assistant roles with the Harambee Stars – where he served under Francis Kimanzi in 2008 and 2011, to multiple stints with Kenya’s youth national teams.
At club level, he is best remembered for steering Ulinzi Stars to three consecutive Kenya Premier League titles between 2002 and 2004, a feat that cemented his reputation as one of Kenya’s most tactically astute managers of his generation.
His most recent assignment was with Murang’a Seal, a side he joined in April 2025 during a tense relegation fight. Chipo successfully guided the team to safety, finishing 13th and avoiding the drop by two points. Despite meeting the season’s objective, he and the club mutually agreed to part ways in August.
Now at Mtibwa Sugar, Chipo faces a different but equally demanding challenge, helping the club stabilize in the top flight after securing promotion last season.
Mtibwa currently sit 12th in the Tanzanian Premier League with 5 points from five matches, level with 11th-placed Azam FC but trailing on goal difference.
His return to Tanzania marks yet another chapter in his long-running engagement with the country’s football scene, having previously coached Coastal Union, Tabora United, and other regional sides. Known for his adaptability and ability to thrive in short-term, high-pressure assignments, Chipo is expected to instill structure and competitiveness in the Mtibwa squad.
As the newly promoted side looks to secure survival and re-establish itself in the top tier, Chipo’s experience, both in Kenya and Tanzania, could prove pivotal in shaping Mtibwa Sugar’s Premier League future.
By Brian Ouma
