Strategic Co-operations Key To Harambee Stars Success: Coach Engin Firat

NAIROBI, Kenya-Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has reiterated the need to explore strategic partnerships with Federations of developed countries in a bid to expose Kenyan players to top-level football.

The coach said this as he paid a courtesy call to the Qatari Football Association General Secretary / CEO Mansoor Al-Ansari.

Firat was accompanied by influential Harambee Stars Captain Michael Olunga, who recently won the Golden Boot in Qatar as his Al Duhail side won the Qatar Stars League.

“Qatar is a country with great potential. They have invested a lot of resources in football. Over 55,000 Kenyans also work and live here. We are exploring partnerships with such countries so as to expose Kenyan football to the global scene,” said coach Firat on the sidelines of the meeting.

“Having talented players is not enough. We also need to create networks to ensure that these talented players are exposed to top-level football from a young age,” the coach added.

In March this year, Harambee Stars put behind them a year-long suspension from international football to feature in a friendly match against Iran in Tehran.

More friendly matches have been lined up in the June, September, October, and November international windows as the team readies itself for a return to CECAFA, CAF, and FIFA competitions.