Exclusive: Okwemba Urges FKF to Employ Matano, ‘Ghost’ or Kimanzi As Harambee Stars Head Coach

Former Kenyan international Charles Okwemba has advised Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to consider replacing Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat with either Robert Matano, Francis Kimanzi, or Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee ahead of the 2025 CHAN tournament.

Football stakeholders, including former players, coaches, and administrators, have been urging FKF to get rid of Firat following the unsuccessful pursuit for a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Stars finished third in the AFCON qualifiers behind Zimbabwe and Cameroon and were tossed out of the CHAN qualifiers by minnows South Africa, fueling the calls for the sacking of Firat.

With Kenya set to co-host the CHAN tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda, Okwemba believes that one of the three experienced tacticians will do a better job than Firat, who has three wins in 16 competitive matches.

TRIO HAS PROVEN TRACK RECORD

Okwemba, who commands respect from Kenyan football circles, says trusting Firat for the qualifiers will potentially come along with the shame of an early exit from the tournament.

To save the country from being reduced to mere spectators in the tournament, Okwemba wants FKF to pick one of the senior coaches in the country and give him the free hand to lead the team.

The former AFC Leopards midfielder said the profile of the three coaches and the fact that they have won the Kenyan Premier League title makes them suitable for the Stars job.

Further, he asserted that the three had vast understanding of the local players, who will constitute the team for the tournament, unlike Firat, who has been around for three years.

"FKF should consider employing either Ghost, Matano, or Kimanzi ahead of the CHAN tournament. It will be a big risk and a gamble to go for the tournament with Firat as our head coach," said Okwemba in a telephone interview with SportsBoom.com.

"He has proven that he is not the right man for the job. The three coaches have what it takes to lead the team given their experience and knowledge of the players."

The ability to scout for new talent and incorporate them on the team was a quality Okwemba had observed in the three, but inadequate in Firat.

"We have seen the three fish out exciting talents from the grassroots and mould them to become top players. Scouting for talent is important as far as the national team is concerned. We haven't seen that from Firat," he added. 
 

STARS CAN MAKE IT TO CHAN FINAL

The former Vihiga United midfielder tipped one of the three coaches to lead Stars all the way to the final of the tournament, against all the odds. 

Concerns have been raised about the team's ability to compete in the tournament following the shameful elimination from the qualifiers and the quality of the league. 

However, Okwemba believes that a top local coach is enough to restore the lost hope and glory by sailing all the way to the final. 

The 44-year-old is convinced that the local players are rich in talent and will easily match their counterparts from North, Central, and West Africa if they are coached properly.

"I don't see a reason for us not to be ambitious and go all the way to the final. I have watched a lot of local action, and I am confident that our players will deliver if handled by a local coach who is experienced enough," said the former Posta Rangers midfielder. 

 

OKWEMBA URGES DELEGATES TO VOTE OUT SABOTEURS

 

Meanwhile, Okwemba called on delegates to be guided by the love of the game during the FKF national polls set for next month.

The former Sofapaka man said the current regime had demonstrated inability to take the game to the next level and shouldn't find favour from the delegates.

The former Ushuru midfielder struggled to highlight the successes the current officeholders had realized, accusing them of being driven by selfishness. 

"We have not made significant progress over the years. The problems we had years back are still with us. Delegates should make the best choice and save us from selfish leaders. The game was hijacked by leaders, who are interested in self-glory rather than football, added the former Tusker midfielder.