Kenya national team coach Engin Firat has had a go at the country’s Football Association about their persisting problems after failing to qualify but also praised the role of Khama Billiat for Zimbabwe.
Kenya played to a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe this past weekend as they missed out on qualification. The Harambee Stars have only qualified for AFCON six times in their history (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992 & 2004) having last featured in 2019.
Firat says he understands the fans frustrations at not qualifying however didn’t hold back in saying the FA has to sort itself out before even dreaming of AFCON.
“We are not happy about it, none of us but we have to realize what we have in the end and stop to dream,” said Firat after the match.
“And you remember how many times I talk about the problems we have in Kenyan football, and they never finish the problems, the things are going worse. As long as we don’t solve these problems, then it will take how many, 34 years, or whatever to AFCON it will take more. Why we should not go on for the reality we have in Kenyan football and stop to dream and to solve problems.
“In Kenya is still now only ‘we want, we want, we want’, by what, by giving what? For three years we didn’t play one match at home. Show me another team here. We have no fans, nothing. We have no support. We don’t have a training field to Kenya. Show me one training field. Come on you’re sport journalists tell me which training field which you can compare with other countries.”
The Turkish mentor went on to complement Zimbabwe saying his counterpart Michael Nees did a great job with the squad especially bringing back Khama Billiat from retirement as he makes the team tick.
“The coach is doing a really clever thing, he knows that Zimbabwe team has the biggest capacity in the defence now,” added the 54-year-old mentor.
“So therefore, he is clever to play deep and to go for transition and with bringing back [Khama] Billiat, he now has a real playmaker who controls the ball, saves the ball.
“So therefore, this team is now really competitive. And if I look around, they have so many players who are playing in really good leagues and really good clubs. It’s no discussions this is a really strong team.
“This group was very tough, very tough. Therefore when Zimbabwe is going to the AFCON they will have good results because they play the football which is needed in Africa.
“This needs fast transition with a very strong defence line so therefore, I’m sure, Zimbabwe, will have even a chance to go out of the group,” Firat further said.
