Engin Firat resigns as Harambee Stars head coach
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed has confirmed that Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has resigned.
Firat, who took charge of the national team in 2021, departs after an unsatisfactory tenure highlighted by Kenya’s failure to qualify for major continental tournaments.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, Mohammed announced that the matter had been officially communicated to the FKF secretariat.
Hussein-Mariga election marks new era at FKF
Firat’s resignation coincides with internal leadership changes at FKF, as Mohammed was recently elected president and new National Executive Council (NEC) members have begun their terms.
“The office of the secretary general, Football Kenya Federation, FKF, has received communication from national team coach Engin Firat regarding the termination of his contract, which commenced in November 2021,” said Mohammed.
Firat’s tenure, which began with a short-term contract in September 2021, was later extended to a four-year agreement through January 2026.
His responsibilities included leading Kenya’s efforts to qualify for the 2023 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Firat’s failure to meet expectations
Despite initial optimism, the Harambee Stars were eliminated early in the qualification rounds. Finishing third in their group behind Cameroon and Zimbabwe. Under Firat’s, Kenya also struggled in the qualifiers for the postponed 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN).
Earlier, Firat had expressed confidence in Kenya’s prospects. Describing the qualification group as “very easy” and asserting the team had a strong chance to qualify for AFCON 2025. Howeve, the team’s performance on the pitch did not align with these expectations.
The Harambee Stars delivered inconsistent results and were outperformed by group leaders Cameroon and Zimbabwe, who ultimately secured qualification.
FKF’s financial constraints
Firat’s resignation has also highlighted FKF’s financial difficulties. Reports suggest that he earned between Sh1.5 million and Sh2 million monthly. An amount that proved to be a significant burden on the organization’s limited resources. Details of his contract, previously kept confidential, are now under scrutiny as FKF prepares for an audit.
“We will provide direction on this matter after internal consultations, FKF aims to act swiftly to address the situation while considering costs,” said FKF president Hussein Mohammed.
The FKF president also emphasized that finding a replacement for Firat would be a priority for the newly elected leadership.
A meeting with the NEC is planned to outline the recruitment process and establish criteria for selecting the next head coach.
