It's time for Firat and Harambee Stars to walk the talk

Harambee Stars' Coach Engin Firat. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

After several months of preparation, an hour of talking, video demonstrations, and calls for patience, it’s time for Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat to walk the talk.

Kenya collide with Gabon in their first 2026 World Cup Qualifiers match at Stade De la Renovation in Franceville, tonight (7pm), and Kenyans are expecting some positive results from the team.

This match will be followed by a departure to Abidjan, Ivory Coast for their second Group F game against Seychelles at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Monday.

Firat believes his troops have hit top form as they start chasing the elusive World Cup ticket to Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Kenya who are in Group F alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles have played a series of friendlies ahead of the competition since the Fifa ban was lifted in November last year.

Stars won twice (1-0 Pakistan, 2-1 Qatar), drew once (2-2 Russia), and lost thrice (2-1 Iran, 1-0 Mauritius and 1-0 South Sudan) in build-up matches.

 “It’s a long road but now we are here. Despite a lot of players missing who are normally in the first team we have to show character and fill the gap.

 “We have to play better than we played against Russia today. We cannot concede easy goals after scoring and I believe the team will play well,” said Firat.

Though the camp has been hit with an injury crisis, the Turkish tactician is confident of upsetting their hosts.

He was forced to call Zambia-based defender Dennis Ngánga (Zanaco) to replace Stade de Reims defender Joseph Okumu. Okumu has been ruled out of the match through injury alongside his Viborg FF counterpart Daniel Anyembe.

Mamelodi Sundown defender Brian Mandela asked permission to be omitted from the team as he is set to undergo an unspecified surgery, while AIK midfielder Collins Sichenje has gone under the knife. First-choice goalkeeper Bryne Odhiambo is still nursing an ankle injury he suffered during last month's friendly against Russia.

With these woes, comes an opportunity for Kenya Police goalkeeper Patrick Matasi to reclaim his place while the likes of KCB defender Hanif Wesonga and Orlando City's Nabi Kibunguchy could make their debut.

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga and Rashid Toha Freedon of South Sudan fight for ball posession during International Friendly match played at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on September 12, 2023. South Sudan won 0-1. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Though Firat feels it will take time to build a formidable team that will eventually give Kenyans joy in the long run, he has called for patience from the ever-demanding fans.

The Turk insisted that he selects players depending on his philosophy, patterns of play and tactical view.

“We have more than 50 players whom we are following closely. It is not only the talent of the players but also how they fit in my system and football philosophy," said Firat.

“This all needs time. We have a team but we have to work on details; tactics. People have to understand it is a national team and we don’t have daily training where it would be easier to work on the finer details."

But Firat was quick to defend the form of his captain Michael Olunga, who has struggled to score goals for the national team. 

"In Qatar, Olunga didn't score, but he changed the result of the game. If people don't understand, they should go and play the PlayStation. Mike is so important for this country, he makes big things to represent his country. For me as a coach, I will never put Olunga out, there's no player of his level in Kenya at the moment. Even if other people think we have players like Didier Drogba, I don't believe it," he said during Monday's press conference.

The national team flew to Gabon yesterday via a chartered flight with Gor Mahia left-back Geoffrey Onyango, Kakamega Homeboyz forward Moses Shummah and Murang’a Seals youngster Eric Balecho dropped from the initial squad.

Kenya faces a Gabon side that has not won their last three matches.

Last month, Gabon were held to a 1-1 draw by Guinea in an international friendly match. Previously, they had lost their two consecutive matches against Mauritania (2-1) and DR Congo (2-0) in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.