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Harambee Stars are without a coach following the resignation of Engin Firat but who are the names likely to take over from the Turkish tactician?
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat handed in his resignation this week following the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections that ushered Hussein Mohammed into office.
Firat ended his three-year tenure that had been marked with poor results, questionable selection and blame games and the FKF is left looking for a new man to take over.
Following his departure, focus now shifts on who are the likely candidates to take over from the Turkish coach.
Opinion is divided over whether Kenya should go for a local tactician or pursue another foreigner but all indications point to a Kenyan coach. If that is the case, who are the frontrunners for the position?
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18:12 - 12.12.2024
Engin Firat: What outgoing Harambee Stars coach stood to gain had he secured AFCON 2025 ticket
The Turkish coach would have stayed much longer in Kenya had he managed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as per the contract he entered with FKF.
Francis Kimanzi
Former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has been one of Mohammed’s big supporters and it has not gone unnoticed that he has been with the new FKF boss in most meetings since his election.
Whether that is strategic remains to be seen but Kimanzi does not need to prove anything given his experience and understating of the Kenyan game and players.
A highly-experienced tactician, the former Mathare United, Tusker and Sofapaka coach has had three previous stints with the national team (2008-09, 2011-12 and 2019-20) but it is his first that he is best remembered for, having guided Kenya to position 68 in the FIFA rankings, their highest ever, in 2008.
Salim Babu
Former Kenya Police coach Salim Babu is another name with plenty of admirers given what he has done with Kenya's junior teams the U20 and U18s.
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07:00 - 10.12.2024
Francis Kimanzi calls for three key strategic reforms in Kenyan football under new FKF leadership
Kimanzi has revealed three key things the new FKF office under Hussein Mohammed's leadership must adress if Kenya is to rise from the ashes as a footballing powerhouse.
Babu just guided Kenya’s U20 to the Africa Cup of Nations while leading the U18 to the CECAFA final last year and he is loved for his attractive brand of football.
Babu is also credited for transforming Nzoia Sugar into title challengers in the 2022-23 season when they stayed in the hunt for the FKF Premier League crown until the last month of the season before finishing an impressive fourth.
Francis Baraza
A rank outsider, another former Kenya Police coach who might have the knowhow and experience to handle Harambee Stars is Francis Baraza.
Baraza moved to Tanzania to take over Dodoma Jiji FC following his sacking from Police last year but he would be suitable for a first stint as national team coach as he also possesses the tactical acumen and his man-management would be appealing to the squad.
Having also coached Kagera Sugar FC and Biashara United in Tanzania, as well as Muhoroni Youth and Chemelil Sugar, Baraza famously masterminded Sony Sugar’s title win in 2006 and led the side for many years before they later folded due to financial challenges.
Robert Matano
Another long-serving coach who would be making the jump to the national team for the first time is Sofapaka boss Robert Matano.
A four-time Kenyan league winner, Matano, nicknamed “The Lion”, ticks most boxes especially when it comes to strict adherence to discipline, something that can sometimes lack in the national team.
Matano guided Sofapaka to a league title in the same year they were promoted to the top flight in 2009 and had two successful stints at Tusker before he left at the end of last season to return to Sofapaka.
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06:15 - 12.12.2024
Twahir Muhiddin: Why Harambee Stars are losing ground in African football and how to fix it
Former Harambee Stars coach has called for a fresh start urging youth integration and local player competition to revive the team.
To confirm how effective he can be, Matano has got Sofapaka sitting in eighth place this season having spent the whole of last season in the relegation places before they escaped the axe via the playoff.
Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno
Another highly experienced coach is current Gor Mahia interim boss Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, who returned to K’Ogalo after a stint with Sofapaka.
The former KCB, Posta Rangers and Sony Sugar coach also handled Harambee Stars previously from 2010-2011 which gives him experience at this level.
Zico, who is hoping that he can be confirmed head coach of Gor Mahia, is already accustomed to working under high-pressure environments following his previous stints with K’Ogalo and the national team.
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20:45 - 11.12.2024
The closest Kenya has come to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup
He did a commendable job at KCB, leading them to three top-five finishes in the four years he was in charge, including missing out on the 2020-21 title by just three points.
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