Michael Olunga Leads Tributes as Harambee Stars Players Mourn Sudden Death of Former Coach Engin Firat

The football world was plunged into mourning on Monday, March 9, following the sudden death of former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat.

In a statement, his club Nejmeh SC confirmed that he suffered a fatal heart attack at Istanbul Airport while travelling to Adana, shortly after departing from Beirut.

"To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return. With great sadness and sorrow, Star Athletic Club mourns first team coach Captain Engin Firat, who passed away following a sudden heart attack," the club stated.

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"During the time he spent with the club, the deceased was known for his professional commitment and high ethics, and he left a good impression on the ranks of the team and among the members of the Star Club family," the tribute continued.

Having served as head coach of Harambee Stars from September 19, 2021, until December 2024, Engin Firat became a well-known and respected figure in Kenyan football.

During his time in charge, he worked closely with several members of the national team, building relationships with players both on and off the pitch.

Following news of his passing, many of those players took to social media to pay tribute to the coach who had played a role in their international careers.

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga led the tributes, sharing a heartfelt message on his Facebook page that read: “Rest in peace, Coach Engin Firat.”

His message was quickly echoed by several teammates who had worked under the Turkish tactician during his stint with the national team.

Erick Ouma also shared a brief but emotional post on his social media platforms, writing: “RIP COACH,” accompanied by salute emojis.

Fellow Harambee Stars defender Alphonse Omija joined in remembering the late tactician, posting a simple tribute that read: “Rest in peace, coach.”

Meanwhile, Richard Odada, who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for FC UTA Arad, also honoured his former mentor on his Instagram stories, writing: “Rest easy coach.”

The tributes reflected the respect Firat had earned among the players he coached during his time with the national team.

Another emotional message came from Austin Odhiambo, who had recently been working under Firat at Nejmeh SC. Odhiambo shared a photo of himself alongside the coach and captioned it with a heartbreak emoji.

Over his 23 matches in charge of the national team, Engin Firat's record stood at seven wins, seven draws, and nine losses. His tenure included notable results such as a 2-1 victory over Qatar and hard-fought draws against the Ivory Coast and Russia.

However, his leadership also saw significant defeats, including a 5-0 loss to Mali in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, a 4-0 defeat to Cameroon in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, and a surprising 1-0 friendly loss to South Sudan in Nairobi.

Throughout his time in Kenya, Engin Firat was an outspoken critic of the country's sporting infrastructure, frequently highlighting the lack of a FIFA-accredited stadium as a major hindrance.