Firat up in arms despite Stars beating Namibia in Afcon qualifier

Harambee Stars' coach Engin Firat has lamented the lack of pay and support despite beating Namibia 2-1 in their second African Cup of Nations qualifier clash.

Harambee Stars, who are eyeing a place in the 2025 Afcon tournament in Morocco, drew o-0 against Zimbabwe in their opener last week. 

 Firat expressed frustration over the lack of Kenyan fans attending their matches and because he hasn’t been paid for the last nine months. 

The Turkish tactician said he has not been paid for nine months and no longer gets the support he deserves with the national team.

He said it is sickening that the Stars have been reduced to tourists, playing their home matches away from home.

“Despite being promised to have 5,000 fans for our match against Zimbabwe in Uganda, there were very few. I am also not okay.  If you don't pay the coach for nine months even one dollar, then what do you want?  fumed Firat. 

Firat, 54, also wants fans to tone down their criticism and support their team. " At least let them motivate the team who battle under difficult situations to raise the Kenyan flag aloft."

He added: “Now that we have Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections, everyone including the ex-national team coach wants to make propaganda to make the team look bad,” said Firat during a heated post-match presser in Jo'burg. 

Firat said he is not afraid of Cameroon and is confident his boys will perform well in their next assignment. 

"I am not afraid of Cameroon. We played against Ivory Coast,  overcame Qatar, drew with Russia in a friendly and we have not lost any match this year," said Firat

The coach promised to fix his defence because the tendency of conceding late goals is creeping back as was evident with Deon Hotto’s 94th-minute free kick that left Stars keeper Bryne Omondi flat-footed.

This is after John Avire’s sublime 57th-minute free kick and Duke Abuya’s 77th-minute effort had given Stars a 2-0 lead.

Stars assistant captain Joseph Okumu hopes they will maintain the momentum. "A difficult game it was but we are happy to have won our first game away from home. We were a bit disjointed in the first half, but we were more energised in the second half," said the Reims' defender. 

Stars top Group J with four points same as Cameroon while Zimbabwe who held the Indomitable Lions to a 0-0 draw are third with two points. Namibia are bottom with zero points after back-to-back losses to Cameroon and Kenya.