Harambee Stars to get new coach next week – Mwendwa

Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has said that the national football team, Harambee Stars, will have a new coach next week.

Speaking on Monday morning at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while receiving the World Cup trophy, Mwendwa, however, did not disclose the identity of the coach.

“We are getting a new coach next week, yes, a new coach!” Mwendwa thundered.

The appointment will come days after Belgian Paul Put resigned as the team’s head coach citing personal reasons with Stanley Okumbi taking charge on an interim basis.

Though Mwendwa was muted on the identity of the soon-to-be-unveiled coach, speculation is rife that amongst those being considered is a long-serving French tactician.

Put’s resignation threw the football chiefs off balance coming at a time when the Stars are focussing on crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana’s Black Stars. The tie was initially primed for March 23 but was pushed to September 7.

After confronting the Black Stars of Ghana, the Stars will battle Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes and these two matches will give an indicator as to whether they will be among the 24 nations that will compete at the biennial competition in Cameroon.

Mwendwa said: “It’s a good thing what Coca-Cola is doing since most football fans will be able to view the real trophy as everyone cannot afford to go to Russia.This also helps us to align our dreams of qualifying for the World Cup tournament in future.”

“We have to work from grassroots, we have to create a generation  that can do it, if it’s not 2022 it has to be 2026, so that dream has been there since I was born until I got to the federation and I think it’s a valid dream that we have to keep chasing ” he added .

In 2014, the national team was privileged to travel to Brazil to watch the World Cup match between Nigeria and Argentina thanks to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s sponsorship.

At the same time, Mwendwa said that the  Deputy President William Ruto had assured the federation of a Sh 40 million to aid their preparations.