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The former Eintracht Frankfurt director of football is adamant that Harambee Stars would be top of the group had he had his key defenders and goalkeeper fit.
A bullish Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat is adamant that Harambee Stars would have gotten all six points had he had all his ‘key’ players fit in the recently concluded international break.
Kenya lost their opening game 2-1 to Gabon, having surrendered their goal advantage, but were able to make amends with a 5-0 win over Seychelles in a match played at the 2023 AFCON hosts Ivory Coast on Monday evening.
Stars missed KCB custodian Byrne Omondi, as well as defenders Daniel Anyembe, Joseph Okumu and Collins Shichenje, while Erick 'Marcelo' Otieno missed the first game against Gabon through injury.
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05:40 - 22.11.2023
STARS ABROAD Kenyan defender Joseph Okumu plotting move to a big club after settling at Reims
Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu has ambitions of making a big-money switch to one of the world’s top teams even after turning down lucrative offers last summer
The former Eintracht Frankfurt director of football is adamant that Stars would be top of the group had everyone been available to play.
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“Everybody who knows a little bit about football knows if goalkeeper, right back, left back and three central defenders are missing, it is not only that the quality is going down, these players they never played together,” Firat said.
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21:37 - 21.11.2023
FOOTBALL Michael Olunga backed to continue goal scoring spree after ending goal drought for Harambee Stars
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has been tipped to maintain his scoring touch for the national team after ending his six-game goal drought on Monday
“It is very difficult for them to pass together, to know whether to stay, whatever. It is everything to do with working together to know each other.
“You saw in the match against Gabon especially like we have done before especially against Russia and Qatar because we had problems to open up the game, which is quite normal.
“I am saying it now. If we would have gotten all players, we would be now with six points. This is the reality and I do not care what other people are saying. I only care about what the boys are doing and how they think.
“I know the boys after the match were very disappointed like everyone of us and today, they understood that it is only a step for us.”
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06:00 - 21.11.2023
FOOTBALL Seven things learnt from Harambee Stars’ obliteration of Seychelles
Here are some of the things we learnt from their historic away win over Seychelles.
Firat has rubbished claims that Seychelles was an easy opponent to tear apart, claiming that in recent yeas, they have managed to keep some strong teams at bay.
“To those who think Seychelles is so simple I will remind them that the team closed some doors against teams like South Africa and so on, so therefore I am sure some teams will leave with all points against Seychelles.
“We have also five goals on their side, maybe this helps for the future, but I am quite sure about this team. Everyone understands what is going on and I think Kenya has a bright future.”
Harambee Stars are currently third in Group F on three points with a goal difference of positive four. Ivory Coast occupy first place, with Gabon second in the group, while Burundi, Gambia and Seychelles are fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
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