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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Back to drawing board after Stars' humiliating exit

Editorial

By Editorial | Nov 23, 2024

Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat (left) and his assistant William Muluya during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers Group J first leg match against Zimbabwe at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda on September 6 2024. [Courtesy, Standard]

Last Tuesday, Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, played against Namibia in its last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification matches to a one all draw.

For both teams, the match was a mere formality. Kenya had already been eliminated after another one all draw against Zimbabwe on November 15. Kenya finished third in Group J behind leaders Cameroon and Zimbabwe. Namibia emerged last, not having won a single game.

Kenyan football fans had hoped that Harambee Stars would qualify for the premier Africa event for the first time since 2019. Unfortunately, they will now have to wait until 2027 when Kenya will qualify automatically by virtue of being co-hosts.

Neighbours Uganda and Tanzania acquitted themselves well and qualified for the AFCON 2025 in Cameroon, which begs the question; why did Kenya perform so dismally? Are there no enough talents to done the national colours and make Kenyans proud? Do we blame poor training tactics or team selection?

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How about football leadership at the Federation of Kenya Football (FKF), which is currently conducting elections to put new faces in office? This is the time for serious introspection and making radical decisions to rescue the beautiful game.

In the 1970s through to the 1990s, Kenya was a regional football powerhouse. Harambee Stars was dreaded and made Kenya proud, but somehow our fortunes changed and the team is a pale shadow of its former self today.

We now must urgently establish where the rain started beating us for us to take corrective action and restore our lost glory. After this humiliating exit, we must rethink how to revive Kenyan football.

Blame is often heaped on the head coach, and many have been fired without it leading to a change in our fortunes. Current and former Harambee stars coaches Engin Firat and Jacob Ghost Mulei and some former players believe our failure lies in not nurturing talent early through player development through football academies.

Mulei says talented players in Kenya struggle to reach their potential due to inadequate development structures. These structures include world class stadiums and other facilities. Kenya had to play its home games away from home because our stadiums fall short of international standards.

Countries like Morocco invested heavily in sports facilities just about 15 years ago and are now reaping the fruits with world-class talents coming through their ranks and shinning globally.

Many Kenyans also believe the government and FKF are part of the problems bedevilling Harambee Stars.

Too often, players complain of nonpayment of allowances and salaries.

Not much has been invested in training and playing friendlies against established teams. We must get our act together.