Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat during a past press conference in Nairobi.
The exit of Harambee Stars coach, Turkish Engin Firat, has set tongues wagging as to who will be the next coach of Kenya. Firat was appointed on September 19, 2021, initially on a two-month contract which was later extended to four years. His contract was set to expire in January 2026.
But he opted out early this month, sending a notice of termination of his contract to the new leadership of the Football Kenya Federation, citing salary arrears.
He led Kenya in 23 matches, winning seven, losing nine and drawing another seven. The 54-year-old Turk left under a cloud of dust.
In Kenya’s final matches of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier campaign, and the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, the matter of his salary arrears which had remained unpaid for the last 11 months dominated.
After winning 2-1 against Namibia on November 11 in a 2025 Afcon qualifier match, Firat reminded everyone who cared to listen about his pay row.
“I’m also not okay…if you don’t pay a coach for nine months, not even one dollar then look at the mirror, what do you want?” he posed. At the time, he was owed 10 months of salary arrears.
“Thank God I have no problem surviving. But I have a problem explaining to my family why I’m always away from them yet I don’t get any money.
“I have a problem explaining to them why I’m spending my money and time not on them,” Firat lamented.
When Kenya played out to a barren draw against Zimbabwe on September 6 at the Mandela Stadium in Namboole, Uganda, Firat chided Kenyan fans for not turning up yet the game was in a neighbouring country. Twelve years ago Kenyans had painted the stadium in Stars jerseys and denied Uganda a chance to make it to the 2013 Afcon.
“I expected more fans at the stadium considering that we were playing in a neighbouring country. But that did not happen. Sometimes, I ask myself if Kenya is really a footballing country," said Firat.
“The biggest problem with Kenyans is they always think they are world champions. You underestimate everyone around you.
Lacking sporting facilities
“Look at the conditions our neighbours are in and compare them to ours. You never look in the mirror,” the Turk said when he was questioned about his record after the game.
During the qualifier matches of the 2025 Afcon, 2026 Fifa World Cup, and 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Firat chided Kenya for lacking sporting facilities and hosting its matches outside the country.
Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Center have been closed for renovation in preparation for the 2027 Afcon which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.
Even as he departs, Firat will be remembered as a no-nonsense coach who would go to great lengths to defend the team’s results.
Sports journalists who questioned his tactics and style of football were not spared either. True to his element, Firat took on journalists and fans alike.
One of the issues which put the coach at a crossroads with sports journalists and football stakeholders was the dropping of former Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala (now with Al Safa of Lebanon) from the national team.
On November 13, 2023, Firat told journalists that he was fed up with criticism over his dropping of Omala, who was at the time the league’s top scorer and was on course to win the Golden Boot.
“I cannot hear this bullshit anymore,” he remarked before Kenya left for Gabon to honour a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier.
Firat said his problem with Omala was his ball-controlling skills and also lack of dribbling skills. He showed a video of Omala failing to dribble past an opponent while in action in the local league.
“We are in professional football and not social media, so stop lying to Omala that he is a top footballer. This is a national team and so long as he doesn’t learn, I will not give him a chance,” said an angry Firat.
His press conferences with journalists were akin to a mathematics lesson.
Firat used a projector to back his points while teaching journalists ‘football of the modern times.’
He drew diagrams and displayed players’ work rate and movement on the pitch were analysed.
“Everybody speaks about winning but hey, let’s look at the reality. I honestly don’t understand if this is our past then why is everyone talking about the World Cup, Afcon and whatever,” Firat as Kenya prepared for a friendly match against Iran on March 28, 2023.
His main concern was that Kenyans were demanding instant results from the national team, yet there was nothing to write home about Kenya’s performance in the last 30 years.
Firat also took issue with criticism of his tactics from local coaches. The coaches felt some of Firat’s comments on players were ‘demoralising’ and ‘insulting.’
New season
In the run-up to friendly matches against Qatar and South Sudan last year he didn’t select players from Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and Tusker just after the first game into the new season.
While defending his decision, he claimed that the team’s coaches had publicly acknowledged that their players were unfit thus he couldn’t select them to represent the country.
“Please explain to me how I will call unfit players to my squad. They should use the international break to get fitness,” remarked Firat.
The then Tusker coach Robert Matano would then lash out at Firat claiming he was a lone ranger and didn’t even consult local coaches.
During the friendly against South Sudan on September 12 which Kenya lost 1-0, Firat claimed Kenya had no creative players.
“The reality is that Kenyan football is missing a lot of creative players and players who are strong in one-on-one situations. We are lacking creativity more so if we are in a one-on-one situation,” said Firat.
During the game, he substituted Bradford City’s Clarke Oduor just 20 minutes after bringing him on. When questioned Firat said Oduor was “afraid. It is as if he had a break,”.
Firat time at Harambee Stars was full of controversy and self-defence but not convincing performance. Will the next coach be another Firat or we shall get it right? It is a matter of wait and see as a new coach beckons.
