)
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat, a highly accomplished and internationally successful figure in Turkish football, is on the brink of achieving a remarkable new record.
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat, a highly accomplished and internationally successful figure in Turkish football, is on the brink of achieving a remarkable new record.
Following Ivory Coast’s 2023 AFCON win last Sunday, the stage has now been set for Fırat to attain a challenging milestone.
Having already faced formidable opponents as a national team coach such as France (the 2018 World Champion), Italy (the reigning European Champion), and Qatar (the reigning Asian Champion), he will now be facing Ivory Coast in Nairobi this June as both sides meet in their group F World Cup qualifying group match.
Notably, in a thrilling match in September, Fırat's Kenya emerged victorious against the reigning Qatar, beating them 2-1 in Doha courtesy of a last minute winner by Amos Nondi.
)
16:02 - 15.02.2024
FOOTBALL Throwback: When Ivory Coast’s AFCON hero Sebastien Haller scored maiden Dortmund goal on World Cancer Day following cancer recovery
When Ivory Coast AFCON hero Sebastien Haller scored his first goal since his recovery from testicular cancer on World Cancer Day itself.
Qatar, who won their maiden Asian Cup crown in 2019 by defeating Japan in the final, recently defended its Asian Champion title earlier this month.
Follow our Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more updates.
Firat was named the most successful Turkish coach abroad in December 2023.
The 53-year-old Firat scooped the top honours during the Istanbul ATA Club Award ceremony held in Istanbul.
)
14:26 - 02.02.2024
STARS ABROAD Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat on why Kenya should have many footballers playing abroad
Firat gave an example of Ayub Masika’s recent move to Azerbaijan side Sabali and Stanley Wilson’s ongoing trial in Sweden as potential door-openers for more Kenyan players to move there.
Firat’s remarkable success since taking over the Harambee Stars role was cited as part of the reasons he was crowned the best for 2023.
Firat, who graduated from Sports University in Germany before starting his professional career as an assistant coach for German manager Horst Hrubesch at Samsunspor in 1997, was appointed to lead Kenya on September 19, 2021, following the exit of Jacob “Ghost” Mulee.
His first major assignment saw him handle Kenya in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Mali, away and home, on October 8 and October 12, 2021, respectively. Kenya lost the home fixture 1-0 and the away fixture 5-0. He then forced a 1-1 draw against Uganda in the same qualifier before registering his first victory - 2-1 - against Rwanda in Kigali.
He could not get a chance to take charge of the team in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers as Kenya was disqualified from their group after the world governing body (FIFA) handed the East African nation an indefinite ban citing government interference, but has a chance to do so ahead of the 2025 edition set to take place in Morocco.
)
14:05 - 16.01.2024
Daring to differ: How Engin Firat's votes defied norm at FIFA Awards
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat's unique FIFA award votes highlight diverse football talents diverging from mainstream choices.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)