Former international Fred Ambani hopes to coach the national team, Harambee Stars in the near future.
Ambani, who is among former internationals undertaking the first ever full-length CAF 'B' License Course—the second highest level available in Africa, said national teams should be coached by locals.
"I am looking forward to a time the national team will coached by locals not foreigners. Hopefully, I will be one of them,” said the former striker.
He added: “I want to thank the Football Kenya Federation because we were out here coaching without proper knowledge. We have just been doing what we see our coaches doing but without proper understanding,” he said.
Other Harambee Stars legends taking part are Musa Otieno and Hillary Echesa among others. The course will take four months including classes and internships at Premier League clubs.
Former Harambee Stars Captain Musa said the coaching classes are vital. “There is a misplaced notion that once you are a football player, you can automatically become a qualified coach. But once you sit in class, you realise you really don’t know anything.”
Caf instructor Leonard Odipo said the course is designed to immerse the coaches in the grind of training a team.
“This is not a five-day course, it's four months of serious work. It's intense, detailed and it’s both theory and practical. Every student is attached to a club where they will be mentored by the coach and be given actual responsibility for training sessions,” said Odipo.
For their club internships, Otieno is attached to Kariobangi Sharks, Ambani (Nairobi City Stars) and Hillary Echesa to Super League side Dandora Love.
Other participants include former Harambee Stars players John Baraza and Anthony Kimani, KCB assistant coach Godfrey Oduor, former Starlets players Doreen Nabwire and Beldine Odemba.
