Jay- Jay Okocha to replace Okumbi as Harambee Stars coach

After a series of blunders and misfiring, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has finally made one right move: hiring former Nigerian international Augustine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha to replace beleaguered Harambee Stars head coach, Stanley Okumbi.

Stars have lost back-to-back home and away matches to minnows Guinea-Bissau, effectively knocking Kenya out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations that will be hosted in Gabon.

In an exclusive interview with The Nairobian at the Nigerian High Commissioner’s office in Nairobi, Okocha, who was flanked by his management, said that his agent and the Kenyan federation have agreed on terms and work will begin next week.

Okocha made a stopover in Nairobi from Egypt where Nigeria’s Super Eagles had just lost 1—0 to the Pharaohs. The Nigerian High Commission was holding a private dinner at an invite-only event where ‘Team Change’ secretly signed the deal. According FKF, Okocha will be paid $20,000 a month (Sh2 million), while his assistant will take home $7,000 (Sh700, 000).

“For a long time, Kenya has been the home of great runners, but the time has come to let the world know Kenya as a soccer powerhouse,” Okocha told The Nairobian. According to FKF, the talented Nigerian has agreed to steer Kenya back to the days of glory.

The FKF boss, Nick Mwendwa, is expected to officially introduce Okocha to fans who have been very mad at his choice of Okumbi as Stars coach.

Okumbi, who has debatable international exposure, is only known to have coached Mathare United, which did not win any silverware during his reign. Some of the players given international call-ups by Okumbi were inexperienced Kariobangi Sharks footballers, a move pundits derided as ‘soccer incest.’

In what could be Kenya’s big break, Okocha will be arriving with a contingent of coaching staff from Europe later this week.

“Jay Jay has always loved Kenya from his days as a player and we are all delighted to have been given this chance. We have an experienced assistant from Bolton Wanderers, who played alongside Okocha during his heyday in England. We will however work closely with two other Kenyan coaches because today, African countries appreciate talent from within,” revealed Ejabu Ode, Okocha’s agent.

Ode added that Okocha agreed to coach Stars as a sign of respect for the time he played against Kenya in 1997 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani during the qualifiers for the 1998 France World Cup. Stars and the Super Eagles drew 1-1, but Okocha has never forgotten being ‘police-marked’ by Kenya’s midfield, kingpin John ‘Baresi’ Odhiambo under coach Reinhard Fabisch.

Regarded as one of Africa’s greatest talents, Okocha played 84 games for Paris St Germain in what saw him become Parisians’ favourite - not just for his goals and skills, but also for mentoring a young Ronaldinho.

The Nigerian goal hunter later left PSG for Bolton Wanderers in 2002, where he rose to become a hero for scoring fantastic goals and dazzling opposition with skillful ball handling. His entry in Kenya has been hailed by a number of coaches and former players.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Okocha will surely introduce a new style of play in Kenya,” said Tobby Juakali, a Kenyan football legend who played for both Gor and Harambee Stars.