FKF appoint Paul Put as Harambee Stars head coach

Federation bows to fans’ pressure and fires uninspiring and under-performing local tactician

FKF boss urged all delegates to support Paul Put in carrying out his mandate

Paul Put who made history by guiding Burkina Faso to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals has been appointed as Harambee Stars coach.

He takes over from Stanley Okumbi who has been under pressure due to poor results on a two year contract.

Put, a Belgian national was unveiled during yesterday’s Football Kenya Federation (FKF) AGM in Mombasa.

Nick Mwendwa, the FKF president, while unveiling Put described him as the best you can have in the business.

Okumbi out as Stars get new foreign coach [PHOTO: COURTESY]

“He has been in Africa for the last 12 years and during that time done a lot including taking  Burkina Faso to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2013 and also helped Gambia to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. “He is clearly the best you can have in the business and we have signed him for two years with the aim of taking Kenya to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2021 and possibly the 2022 World Cup,” Mwendwa said.

He urged all delegates to support the new coach in carrying out his mandate. Put on his part said he is an ambitious coach who loves to win and expressed confidence his ambition will help the under-achieving Harambee Stars.

Okumbi out as Stars get new foreign coach [PHOTO: COURTESY]

“I am grateful for the warm welcome and it is a great honour to be the coach of this lovely country. I am a very ambitious man who loves to win. I wrote history with Burkina Faso and Gambia and want to do the same with Kenya.

“For this you can count on me 100 percent. I promise to do everything possible to raise the Kenyan flag high,” he said.

Put’s immediate task is to lead Harambee Stars in the regional Senior Challenge Cup that will be held in Kenya from December 3 to 17.