SINGIDA Fountain Gate FC have identified the need for recruiting a new head coach who will, in cooperation with the leadership, develop a competitive squad ahead of the next season.

The move was reached after the now Mwanza-based side had reviewed its participation in the just-ended 2023/24 season.

In the 2023/24 season, Singida Fountain Gate FC was under the tutelage of several coaches on both permanent and interim bases, and, by the end of the season, the number totaled seven.

In the first phase of the Premier League season, Singida Fountain Gate FC parted ways with three coaches, namely Netherlands national Hans van der Pluijm, German coach Ernst Middendorp, and Brazilian coach Ricardo Ferreira.

South African Thabo Senong, domestic coaches Jamhuri Kihwelo and Ngawina Ngawina, as well as technical director, Burundian Ramadhan Nsanzurwimo, all led the team at different times.

In his first season as the interim head coach in top-flight football, Ngawina, who led the club to the final day of the Premier League, had the side ending 11th in the league log with 33 points.

Ngawina, the former striker for DR Congo's TP Mazembe, is not expected to retain his position at the helm of Singida Fountain Gate FC's technical bench as the squad is expected to hire a new head coach.

The club is on the verge of losing left fullback Nickson Kibabage, now on loan at Yanga, to the Jangwani Street-based club, with talks between the two clubs to seal a permanent move now in progress.

Singida Fountain Gate FC have, for that matter, begun searching for the left fullback's replacement.

Apart from Kibabage, midfielder Yusuph Kagoma is on his way out to Yanga, as the Premier League champions attempt to bolster the midfield. 

Kagoma is set to play alongside Ugandan Khalid Aucho in defensive midfield.

Singida Fountain Gate FC's president Japheth Makau said the outfit will review the season through the interim head coach's report and decide on the players' recruitment and hiring a new head coach to fight for a top-four finish next season.

The club's top leader remarked that after receiving the end-of-the-season report, the outfit's next step is to build the team with the new head coach as well as identify his needs.

"We would not like to, next season, see a repeat of what happened in our technical bench this season, we want concentration on our coaches and players to build a strong team, our search is underway," Makau pointed out.

"Finishing 11th in the league log is not good for our club compared to last season, which saw us end fourth in the league,” he stated.

"We also lost a lot of key players in our team in the just-ended season, they were pivotal to our run of good form in the first phase. Coach changes also affected our team. Next season we want to combat these setbacks," the official added.
 
The club has planned to have a pre-season preparation in either Ethiopia or South Africa, where the club will play against various local teams.