Firing spree of coaches proving costly for broke FKF

As Kenyans eagerly await confirmation of the next Harambee Stars technical bench, the begging question is the financial burden left on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) shoulders, following termination of Sebastien Migne and his aides’ contract.

The French tactician, in May 2018, penned a three-year deal that last week was terminated on what FKF said was a mutual agreement.

However, it is unclear how much Migne and his fellow three Frenchmen will cost the federation, with details of compensation remaining FKF’s top secret.

This is in spite of the financial implications such moves have caused the federation before, including two pending ones relating to sacking of former coaches Adel Amrouche and Bobby Williamson.

Acting FKF Secretary General Barry Otieno claimed details of the agreement between the federation and Migne leading to the termination could not be divulged, “in guarding of the Frenchman’s negotiations with future employers.’’

Poignantly, Migne whose monthly salary was reported to be Sh. 1.5 million had Nicolas Bouriquett, Guillame Coffy and Ludovic Breul as his backroom staff, whose salaries were not in the public domain.

Essentially, their contracts were tied on Migne’s, meaning his exit ends their tenure with Stars too, and will have to be compensated.

Thus, Migne, his aides excluded, will have to be paid an estimated over Sh. 30 million for his 21 months that were remaining on his contract. However, the figure could go lower depending on the termination agreement, especially being based on poor performance.

How Bouriquett, Coffy and Breul will be paid is another matter FKF keeps a secret too.

Wiliamson, Amrouche conundrum

The federation is in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against Amrouche, with the Belgian who coached Harambee Stars until August 2014 demanding a pay of Sh. 60 million.  FIFA ruled to Amrouche’s favour, forcing FKF to appeal to CAS. The case has seen FKF boss Nick Mwendwa travel to Lausanne, Switzerland, seeking to mitigate the hefty sum demanded.

While the current regime blames their predecessors headed by Sam Nyamweya the former president for woes emanating from Amrouche’s case, Mwendwa is squarely responsible for Williamson’s conundrum.

He sacked the Scot in 2016, appointing Stanley Okumbi to the position which would prove costly to him a year later forcing his replacement.

“My lawyers are still handling the matter. It is the sole reason I have not taken a managerial role since then,” told the former Gor Mahia and Uganda Cranes coach.

FKF was also forced to pay former Harambee Stars coach Henri Michel (deceased) Sh. 4.5 million by FIFA, in what has turned into a trend with foreign coaches whose contracts have not lasted to entirety.

Tears of the locals

The federation has longstanding debts as claimed by local coaches, who have handled the national team, including Jacob Mulee, Twahir Muhidin, Bobby Ogolla, Aggrey Lukoye, Mohammed Kheri, Sammy Nyongesa, Allan Thigo and the late Joe Kadenge.

Mulee says he is owed Sh. 3 million accrued at the time he served as the Technical Director between the year 2013 and 2015.

“Myself, jointly with Bobby Ogolla and Aggrey Lukoye are owed nearly Sh. 2 million. As the head coach I was entitled Sh. 250, 000 without any essential extra monies for transport and lodging. I know Kheri and the late Kadenge claim Sh. 5 million, while the late Sammy Nyongesa and Allan Thigo claim Sh. 3 million,” told Muhidin.

Muhidin notes lack of proper contracts for the local coaches has made it difficult to claim their dues.

“When Kheri went to the Court Of Arbitration for Sport, he was told the cost of filing an appeal is Sh. 2 million. He therefore decided to drop the case as it did not make financial sense,” he said.

Okumbi could not reveal what he claims from the federation, owing to his personal relationship with some federation officials.

With the Government of Kenya shouldering the burden of paying Harambee Stars coaches, the federation has been on the spot in the way it has managed contracts of the highly paid tacticians.