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Firat has revealed his biggest worry as Kenya prepares to face Burundi and Ivory Coast.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has revealed his biggest worry before the side jets out to Malawi on Sunday for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast slated for July 7 and 11 respectively.
Stars have been camping locally for the last one week ever since the provisional squad was announced, and a number of foreign-based players have linked up with the team.
Players like Richard Odada and Michael Olunga have linked up with the team, but some other players, such as Joseph Okumu and Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma are in the country, but have barely trained as they continue stepping up their recovery from injury.
Firat has revealed his biggest worry as the side prepares for a monumental next 10 days which could make or shatter their World Cup dream.
“It is not just about the tactics. There are some key players we simply do not have any replacement for. Joseph Okumu is a fantastic player who is important for our build-up play. A fantastic player,” Firat told the media.
“ We have issues with Marcelo, who is another we cannot replace. We are unlucky because we always tend to suffer these kind of injuries before a big game.”
Masoud Juma has been injured since earlier this year and will not be available, and Firat has described him as another invaluable player to his tactical set-up.
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12:42 - 31.05.2024
Saddened Olunga explains how Harambee Stars will cope with playing home matches in Malawi
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has explained how he feels the players will contend with hosting Burundi and Ivory Coast in Malawi while expressing sadness over the situation.
“Masoud is another we do not have a replacement for.”
Although Firat has raved about the quality of the midfield options at his disposal, he has always expressed concern about a lack of players with flair in attack.
“We need to find solutions. We will try to solve it within the team. We have a lot of good players in the midfield. We are a bit blessed there because we have many options, but I cannot say that we are so good in the offensive department internationally.
“They may be good at club level but not internationally. I will have to find solutions depending on the opposition.”
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14:40 - 31.05.2024
Ex-Germany U-18 star Tobias Knost reveals targets following maiden Harambee Stars call-up
Knost, who played for Germany at U-18 level, has spoken for the first time since accepting a call-up to the Kenya National Football Team Harambee Stars.
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