The Kenyan football community is in mourning following the death of veteran coach Juma Abdalla, who passed away in the early hours of Friday, July 24, 2026, after a prolonged battle with illness.

In accordance with Islamic rites, Abdalla will be laid to rest later today at 4pm in Murang’a Town.

His passing comes just weeks after family and friends made an urgent public appeal for financial support to help cover medical expenses following his diagnosis with diabetes and pancreatic cancer, a battle that saw his health deteriorate significantly in recent months.

Abdalla leaves behind a rich coaching legacy spanning over two decades.

Widely respected across the country as a master strategist and humble mentor, he built a reputation for discovering unpolished gems and molding them into national stars.

His tactical genius touched numerous top-tier clubs across the Kenyan Premier League, including: Thika United, where he enjoyed his defining era between the early 2000s and 2012, building an iconic, youth-driven squad that achieved a memorable 3rd-place finish in 2009.

He also had a stint at KCB FC, where he led the Bankers to a historic 4th-place finish in 2013, spoiling Gor Mahia’s title celebration with a famous 2-0 victory, and earned himself the prestigious KPL Coach of the Year award.

He later managed Chemelil Sugar, Bidco United, Western Stima, FC Talanta, Murang’a Seal, and served as an assistant coach for AFC Leopards.

Abdalla’s final stint on the touchline came in February 2026, when he took over the head coaching role at Sofapaka following the exit of Ezekiel Akwana, however, his worsening health forced him to quietly step down just a month later.