FKF dismisses reports on Adel Amrouche's appointment as Harambee Stars head coach

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has not appointed Adel Amrouche as Harambee Stars head coach says General Secretary Robert Muthomi.

In a phone interview with Standard Digital, Muthomi dismissed reports from various social media outlets as false and misleading.

"The federation has not offered Stars' job to anyone else apart from (Stanley) Okumbi the current coach," said Muthomi.

"We have instead received submissions from former Stars head coach Adel Amrouche's legal team in a case involving FKF and the Belgian tactician over wrongful dismissal. Kenya is yet to file its defence and until then, we are not talking and no plans are in place to open talks or even float the idea of hiring Amrouche based on the case. If we are ever to hire another tactician, such a decision will only be made due to the coach's qualifications and not that he has a case against Kenya or has held the federation hostage," added Muthomi.

Muthomi was reacting to a story published by one of the local online news site that Kenya had offered Amrouche his job back as an out of court settlement. Amrouche who coached Kenya in 2012/13 was sent packing by Sam Nyamweya's regime after the Belgian tactician was banned by Confederation of African Football (CAF). Amrouche through his lawyers the sought legal redress for wrongful dismissal asking for damages to the tune of USD 1 million. Muthomi however stated that the federation was willing to discuss an amicable solution to the impulse without necessarily jumping into conclusions or making demands.

Sources close to the ministry of Sports, Gender and the Arts however claim that it is the government that is pushing for Amrouche to be reinstated at the National Football Team.

In the last four years, Kenya has had over four coaches at the helm of the national football team. In March, 2016, newly elected FKF President Nick Mwendwa named inexperienced Okumbi as the Stars' coach but stayed silent on the fate of Bobby Williamson. Williamson recently told The Nairobian that he has not been sacked and neither has he received any formal communication from FKF about his fate. The Scot was hired in 2014 after Amrouche's fallout with FKF.

As rumours fly, Kenya remains at the rock bottom of group standings with a point out of four matches.