Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat is doubtful if Kenya will be ready to host forthcoming World Cup qualifiers at home come June, against Burundi and African champions Ivory Coast.
Speaking on Tuesday in a press briefing ahead of Harambee Stars trip to Malawi for international friendlies, the coach said lack of FIFA approved stadia could jeopardize Stars campaign to qualify for the biggest 2026 football fiesta.
A visibly frustrated Firat labored to explain to journalists why his job is difficult given the gaps in structural basics needed for football development, and agonizingly recalled the stadia question.
“The President said that the stadium will be ready by June when we play our World Cup qualifiers but I don’t know how that will be, I remain hopeful…” the coach said.
“Everything happens by luck. When somebody asks me about the capacity of Kenyan football, I don’t know. The reason why I don’t know is that so many things are missing starting with fields and youth development structures, yet we have so good players. If we do not change this, we will keep talking about the same things. There is never a problem of talent in Kenya, I cannot blame anyone, it’s the system that does not allow it,” added Firat.
Currently, the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani is shut for upgrading in preparations for AFCON 2027, while the only other alternative Nyayo Stadium has not been renovated to meet FIFA standards for category A matches.
Firat however maintained all is not lost and Kenya still has a chance against Ivory Coast, if good preparations are done.
“We just need to avoid doing things in the last minute, if we prepare well we build the confidence that we need and we can comfortably handle top teams including Ivory Coast.”
Try New Things
Meanwhile, Firat has revealed the absence of regular players in his squad could force him to employ a new style in this weekend’s friendlies in Malawi, against Zimbabwe and the hosts.
Poland-based defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma is among the key players who will miss due to injuries, and the coach said he will be forced to try out new faces.
“Joseph Okumu has some problems, Dennis Ng’ang’a injured his muscle and Daniel Anyembe had a long time at the side lines at his club. These players are a doubt and I saw it important to invite some few players into the team such as Chris Erambo.
“When you have all these players missing, it is also an opportunity to try new things. Sometimes as a coach you plan but the plans explode, for example I wanted to try in this tournament a three-line defense – but we cannot do that without Marcelo. It is not possible, so we will see, we will try some new faces…” he explained, noting the progress of the new players in camp is impressive.
Apart from the youthful Erambo, Alphonce Omija earned his debut callup to the national team having featured for the U17 junior team.
Shariff Musa, Bonphas Munyasa and Kaycie Odhiambo are also in national team for the first time, while John Avire who last featured for Harambee Stars in 2019 was also given a nod.
He also said Gor Mahia ace Austin Odhiambo is missing in his team because of discipline issues.
The Kenyan team departs for Malawi on Thursday and will begin play their first match against hosts Malawi on Saturday March 23.
