Harambee Stars Striker Reveals Big Role ‘Football Father’ Engin Firat Played in His Career Before His Sudden Death

Harambee Stars striker Masoud Juma has paid glowing tribute to his former coach Engin Firat who died last week after a heart attack at an airport in Turkey.

Firat died suddenly on his way home after fleeing the volatile security situation in Lebanon where he was the coach of top flight side Nejmeh SC, where Juma, and his Kenyan compatriots Anthony Akumu and Austin Odhiambo also play.

Juma was among those who were with Firat in his last moments, with the two having departed Beirut at the same time as they headed to their countries after the league was suspended owing to the retaliatory strikes that have hit Lebanon following the ongoing conflict involving Israel, United States and Iran.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

“He was more than a coach because even during the time I had an Achilles injury and I stayed 11 months out, he called me every time and he was like father,” Juma, who also worked with Firat when he was Harambee Stars coach from 2021 to 2024, told Tata Sports.

“He supported me and believed in my ability and wanted to see me playing and on top. Even before his death, I was with him at the airport, we were laughing, we were talking. He was making jokes about my looks. We were laughing, he asked me if I was a model because I dressed not the usual way he saw me so we laughed and talked.”

Juma says Firat was in high spirits when they went their separate ways and had promised to engage the club so that the squad could have a camp in Turkey as they waited for the situation in Lebanon to deescalate.

“He promised that maybe after two weeks, the war will end and maybe we will come back and he was going to talk with the [club] president so that maybe we have a camp in Turkey. He was so happy, smiling and little did we know it was the last moments with him,” he added.

The Harambee Stars striker then opened up about the big role Firat had played in his move to Nejmeh, crediting the deceased coach for encouraging him to take up the opportunity at a time he was hesitant.

“Since I knew him, he was like my football father because he taught me so many things. Even going to Lebanon, he was the one who told me and pushed me to go because the owner of the club Mr Rahmi is his friend,” he added.

“When they asked him for a striker he mentioned me, I was not ready to go to Lebanon but he talked to me. He is like a father, even the last moments I can say are still fresh in my mind. It is painful to lose someone like him.

“The last time I cried when someone died was when my mum died in 2008 but after his death, tears dropped because he meant a lot to me,” an emotional Juma further said.

Juma was enjoying a good season in Lebanon before the league was suspended, having scored seven goals and added two assists in 12 games for Nejmeh.