Ghost must deliver on his second term

Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee (pictured) is back at the helm of Harambee Stars. There is no doubt that the 52-year-old tactician has what it takes to lead the national team to the next level, but after taking over from an equally good coach, he has a harder task.

He might have guided Kenya to the 2004 AFCON finals in Tunisia, but now he has the duty of first winning the trust and support of fans by naming a strong technical bench to inspire the team back to 2022 AFCON finals in Cameroon.

He has lofty ambitions like the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but he must show intent by first qualifying for the continental challenge. And that starts with next month’s two legged fixtures against Group G league leaders Comoros Islands.

The home game on November 9 presents a perfect opportunity to prove his tactical prowess and win over demanding Kenyan fans. The game will give Kenyans a glimpse of the new technical bench’s capabilities and what to expect during Mulee’s three years reign.

A lot has changed since Mulee last coached the national team in 2010. And with the evolution of the game, he has to quickly adapt to modern tactics. And the real catch will be on how he names his squad; will it be on merit, form, friendship or orders from above. And will he champion for players’ welfare and rights?

Of course the buck stops with him, but he should know that his predecessor was on a rebuilding process and many Kenyans had started believing in the squad. To survive in that hot seat, Mulee must put in hard work. There is no short cut or magic.