FKF Adds New Turkish Nationals to Harambee Stars Backroom Staff

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced the addition of three Turkish nationals to the Harambee Stars backroom staff, working under head coach Engin Firat.

This move comes just a few months after Firat’s permanent appointment.

Kennan Atik joins as a new assistant coach, expanding the coaching unit that already includes William Muluya and Ken Odhiambo. Adem Koyuncu takes up the role of a physiotherapist, while Tolgahan Tuglu replaces Jectan Oitiang’or and Enos Karani as the new Team Manager.

These changes were revealed during Harambee Stars’ training session ahead of the four-nation tournament in Mauritius, where they will face Pakistan, Djibouti, and the hosts.

Although the new additions have been around for some time and have been part of the training camp, Firat aims to build a large pool of players to work with in different scenarios.

With Kenya suspended by FIFA due to government interference, the focus is on building a solid team during this break before competitive matches resume in November.

Firat emphasized the importance of preparing for future assignments, including the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and he has included a significant number of Under-23 players in the squad. His goal is to have them ready by the end of July when Harambee Stars will participate in the Cecafa tournament.

The coach expressed hope that the positive support from the Ministry of Sports, particularly the Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, will contribute to the team’s success. He also acknowledged missing five players from the last international friendly against Iran but expressed confidence in the new players and their potential.

Harambee Stars captain, Michael Ogada Olunga, who plays for Al Duhail in Qatar, highlighted the importance of the tournament in Mauritius in preparation for upcoming World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He believes the team has the quality and potential to succeed, especially with the resolution of the standoff between FKF and the Government.

Richard Odada, based in the USA, shared his excitement about being part of the squad once again and expressed readiness to contribute to the team’s success. The players are eager to face any team and are optimistic about the upcoming competitions.

Overall, the addition of Turkish nationals to the Harambee Stars backroom staff signals a new chapter for the team as they aim for success in international competitions.