Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat Reveals His Biggest Worry Ahead of Matches Against Burundi and Ivory Coast
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has revealed his biggest worry as Kenya prepares to face Burundi and Ivory Coast in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on July 7 and 11, respectively. The team is set to depart for Malawi on Sunday.
The squad has been training locally for the past week since the announcement of the provisional team, with several foreign-based players joining the camp. Key players like Richard Odada and Michael Olunga have joined the squad. However, others such as Joseph Okumu and Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma, who are recovering from injuries, have barely trained.
Firat expressed his concern about the upcoming crucial 10 days that could determine their World Cup aspirations.
“It’s not just about the tactics. There are some key players we simply do not have any replacement for. Joseph Okumu is a fantastic player who is important for our build-up play. A fantastic player,” Firat told the media.
“We have issues with Marcelo, who is another player we cannot replace. We are unlucky because we always tend to suffer these kinds of injuries before a big game.”
Masoud Juma, who has been injured since earlier this year, will not be available. Firat described him as another invaluable player to his tactical setup.
“Masoud is another we do not have a replacement for.”
Despite praising the quality of his midfield options, Firat expressed concern about the lack of attacking flair.
“We need to find solutions. We will try to solve it within the team. We have a lot of good players in the midfield. We are a bit blessed there because we have many options, but I cannot say that we are so good in the offensive department internationally.
“They may be good at the club level but not internationally. I will have to find solutions depending on the opposition.”
