Engin Firat’s tenure as head coach of Harambee Stars was supposed to be a new beginning for Kenyan football. When he unveiled his revamped backroom staff in June 2023 at the Mpesa Foundation Academy in Thika, there was a sense of optimism. With grand ambitions and a new, high-profile coaching team, Firat hoped to steer Kenya’s national team to a successful campaign in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. However, as the qualifiers concluded, it became clear that Firat’s dream team failed to deliver, and Kenya’s footballing ambitions crumbled.
At the heart of Firat’s plan was the introduction of three new staff members. Kenan Atik was brought in as assistant coach, Adem Koyuncu was appointed physiotherapist, and Tolgahan Tuglu joined as team manager. These additions, coupled with a crowded support staff including assistant coaches William Muluya and Ken Odhiambo, and goalkeeping coach Fredrick Onyango, were expected to breathe new life into the team. On paper, the setup seemed perfect a collection of experienced professionals meant to instill new methods, strategies, and recovery techniques into the team.
But the reality was far different. The AFCON qualifiers began with cautious optimism, but soon descended into disappointment. Kenya’s campaign was characterized by a lack of creativity, poor tactical execution, and an inability to score goals. Harambee Stars secured just six points in Group J, finishing third behind Cameroon and Zimbabwe, who both qualified for the tournament in Morocco. Despite Firat’s assurances about integrating cutting-edge recovery methods and professional training techniques, these innovations could not mask the glaring deficiencies on the pitch.
Firat’s much-publicized team failed to show any significant improvement, and Kenya’s performances in key matches were underwhelming. The team struggled to break down opponents, failing to secure wins in critical qualifiers, and a lack of goals became the defining characteristic of their campaign. Even after a draw against Zimbabwe, the team could not muster a victory against Namibia, leaving them with only six points and an early exit from the competition.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s regional neighbors, Tanzania, were flourishing. Tanzania secured their place in Morocco with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Guinea, a performance punctuated by Simon Msuva’s match-winning goal. As the Taifa Stars celebrated their success, Harambee Stars were left in the shadows, still pondering what went wrong.
The problems extended beyond just the players on the field. Firat’s team seemed disjointed, with a bloated backroom staff that failed to deliver tangible results. The technical staff, which was supposed to bring order and direction, appeared incapable of fostering any meaningful improvements. What was supposed to be a harmonious effort on the pitch instead resembled a chaotic orchestra, with more focus on quantity than quality.
As the campaign unfolded, it became apparent that there were too many cooks in the kitchen. The emphasis on building a structure for youth development under Atik was commendable, but Kenya’s senior team, where immediate results were crucial, was left rudderless. The supposed dream team failed to find any rhythm, and the football community began questioning Firat’s ability to lead the team effectively.
In the end, the Harambee Stars’ AFCON 2025 dreams were dashed not with a resounding defeat but with a quiet, underwhelming exit. The team’s performance throughout the qualifiers only reinforced the growing belief that Firat’s grand vision was more of a fantasy than a feasible reality. The failure to qualify for AFCON 2025 marks another chapter in Kenya’s long-standing struggles in African football, leaving fans wondering if a change in leadership will bring a new sense of direction and success.
As Kenya contemplates yet another rebuilding phase, the question remains: will the next coach have the ability to turn the tide and bring the team back to relevance on the continental stage? Only time will tell, but for now, it’s clear that Firat’s tenure will go down as a missed opportunity.
