Juju or no juju Naggi is fine—FKL

By Gilbert Wandera and Robin Toskin

Pressure is mounting on Football Kenya Limited (FKL) over bungled preparation of Harambee Stars even as the officials dug in yesterday to defend disgraced Technical Director Patrick Naggi.

Embattled Naggi has come under fierce criticism for claiming Harambee Stars lost to Tunisia in a World Cup qualifier because of juju (black magic).

Naggi appeared to suggest a Mathare United physiotherapist who was invited by ace striker, Denis Oliech, cast a spell on Stars and caused rain before the match.

Yesterday, FKL CEO Sammy Obingo defended Naggi as doing a splendid job.

"Juju or no juju, the Technical Director is doing a good job given the circumstances under which the Secretariat is," Obingo said in a statement.

Former FKL Technical Committee Jacob ‘Kabanze’ Odundo warned Harambee Stars are at the mercy of officials without focus.

"They spend all their time in firefighting. It is an open secret the team has no physiotherapist, as is the case with the national athletics team. Oliech (Denis) was right in getting one to help out.It is high time they come clear instead of these ping pong games they are playing on Kenyans," Odundo said

Magic spell

Stars’ top striker Oliech rubbished Naggi’s suggestions that a Mathare United physio may have been the agent of black magic spell.

Oliech’s comments, however, have now attracted the wrath of FKL who say the AJ Auxerre striker had no right to invite a physiotherapist in the team’s camp considering that FKL already had one available for the team.

"Apart from having a physiotherapist we also availed a dietician and a psychologist," Obingo said.

The FKL officials, however, would neither furnish FeverPitch the names of team’s physio nor the psychologist. Instead, Obingo referred FeverPitch to the team’s doctor, Wycliffe Makanga for the names, but who declined to do so.

Obingo said Oliech’s recent remarks in the media amounts to "challenging authority."

"Considering that we gave him (Oliech) permission to delay his arrival in the team’s camp, he did not report directly but instead came to your newsroom (The Standard) to plead for the United players. This is direct challenge to the authority of Hey," he said without specifying if they would take disciplinary action against the ace striker who has scored five goals in Stars’ World Cup/Africa Nations Cup campaign.

Fear of reprisal

Several Harambee Stars players declined to comment on the "Black Magic Saga" and whether there was a physiotherapist at their disposal for fear of reprisals from the officials.

"I prefer to leave the issue to the administrators. You have seen how in the past some players have been dropped from the national team for raising certain issues," a senior Harambee Stars and former Tusker FC player said.

Sofapaka defender Zablon Amanaka was overlooked during selection after he championed for Stars allowances duirng the infamous Egypt friendly in January amid fears he is outspoken.