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Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has hit back at Kenyans over their criticism of his tactics and selection but the numbers suggest the fans are right to demand better.
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has criticised Kenyans for going hard on him over poor performances when the country is not a top footballing nation.
Firat presided over yet another poor display as Harambee Stars recorded a lackluster goalless draw with Zimbabwe in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday, a result that left a bitter taste in Kenyans’ mouths.
However, Firat has remained defiant and told the disappointed fans to lower their expectations as the team is still far from challenging the big boys.
“In Kenya, you have a problem, you think you are world champions and you underestimate everybody around you,” Firat said after the match.
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21:59 - 07.09.2024
Harambee Stars coach gets his wish as Namibia lose to Cameroon ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Kenya
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat had his wish granted as his team’s next opponents Namibia were beaten by Cameroon on Saturday ahead of next week’s meeting with Kenya.
It was just one of the many disparaging remarks that Firat has made towards Kenyans, his team or the country, but while some are true, the tactician has not covered himself in glory when it mattered most.
Firat was initially hired on a two-month contract in September 2021 before he was handed a new three-year deal at the beginning of 2023 which will take his stay up to 2026.
In his 22 months with Kenya across the two spells, Firat has taken charge of 17 matches, winning six, drawing five while losing six, which is why Kenyans are demanding better even if he does not agree with them.
Crucially, of the 17, Firat has guided Kenya to nine competitive matches and his record does not bode well. Kenya have won two, drawn four while losing three.
Firat started his stint in Kenya with four competitive matches, being the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and he received a baptism of fire as Harambee Stars lost 5-1 away to Mali before a 1-0 defeat to the Malians in the retrun leg in Nairobi.
He followed it up with a 1-1 draw away to Uganda before a 2-1 win over Rwanda, his first victory, after which his two-months contract elapsed.
Kenya would then serve a nine-month FIFA ban and when the suspension was lifted, Firat returned at the start of 2023 and was handed a new three-year deal.
His first assignment was a match away to Iran in March 2023, which Kenya lost 2-1, before they hit a new low in June that year, when they beat Pakistan 1-0 after a laboured display before Mauritius handed them a 1-0 loss.
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21:05 - 07.09.2024
Ex-Harambee Stars midfielder challenges FKF Electoral Code at CAS as he calls for FIFA normalisation committee
The former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars midfielder, who is now an FKF Presidential aspirant has gone to the Court of Abitration for Sports challenging the recently amended FKF Electoral Code.
Things would improve in September when they beat Qatar 2-1 in Doha but a 1-0 home loss to South Sudan five days later took the shine away.
There was another impressive 2-2 draw with Russia, a game Kenya were close to winning before conceding a late equalizer, in October 2023.
After this, Firat’s mettle was put to the test in November as Kenya began their 2026 World Cup qualifiers and it is here where they were found wanting, losing 2-1 to Gabon but they followed it up with a 5-0 win over minnows Seychelles.
Firat was on cloud nine at the Four Nations tournament in Malawi in March this year after starting with a 4-0 thrashing of the hosts before coming from behind to beat Zimbabwe 3-1 to claim the trophy.
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16:04 - 07.09.2024
Engin Firat sweating over fitness of two key Harambee Stars players ahead of Namibia clash
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat is looking at the possibility of calling up more players ahead of Tuesday’s match against Namibia after injuries to two key defenders on Friday.
These ignited hopes of a better performance when the World Cup qualifiers returned in June with matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast.
However, Kenya could only manage a 1-1 draw with Burundi, taking the lead first, wasting a number of chances, before their opponents scored late for a share of the spoils and this was followed up with a goalless draw against the African champions.
Kenya had Ivory Coast on the backfoot in certain moments of the game and had they been brave, they would have secured an unlikely win, but their conservative approach saw them nick just a point.
Ahead of the meeting against Zimbabwe, expectations were high that three points would be found but what fans got instead was a toothless display, with Firat raising eyebrows with his selection when he did not field a striker in the starting XI.
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13:12 - 07.09.2024
'You think you have the best view'- Zimbabwe coach hits back at Firat's referee critique after AFCON qualifier
Zimbabwe's coach has defended Senegalese referee criticized by Engin Firat after 2025 AFCON qualifier Group J opener played in Kampala on Friday.
Heading into Tuesday’s match with Namibia, hopes among Kenyans are at an all-time low and it is down to what they have seen from Firat in previous matches.
Harambee Stars matches have been marked by shaky displays, lack of bravery, while they struggle to hold onto leads given the many late equalisers they concede, a damning indictment on Firat’s tactics.
While some fans may have been harsh on Firat, losing to Mauritius and South Sudan, while failing to beat Zimbabwe and Burundi will always be frowned upon.
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