It is ‘too late’ to hire a foreign coach for CHAN duty, Ambani says

Former Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards striker, Boniface Ambani, is backing a local coach to take charge of the national football team, Harambee Stars, for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.

Ambani says it is too late to appoint a foreign coach for the February 1-28, 2025 assignment despite the Kenyan team being heavily linked to former Manchester United coach, Benni McCarthy.

“It will depend on the coach that will be appointed to be in charge of Harambee Stars. When you talk of Benni McCarthy I personally think it will be a toll order for him because he doesn't even know a single player from our team,” noted Ambani.

He added, “A foreign coach or a local coach, all depends on what the federation (FKF) wants in terms of the targets and minimums. Should Benni come now then he will be coming to first of all learn and study our players as opposed to expecting so much from him.”

Francis Kimanzi was hastily named Harambee Stars head coach on an interim basis last month after the resignation of Engin Firat, with his first assignment being Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar.

Kenya managed to win their first match 1-0 against Tanzania and secured a 1-1 draw against Bukina Faso before losing 1-0 to hosts Zanzibar in their final group match to miss out on the final.

“For the team that has been in Zanzibar, what happened has happened but also it is that tournament that you say the boys went for build-up matches. Kimanzi as you know was named hastily to fill up the vacant slot that was left by Engin Firat and so he also had not much time with the team to prepare for the Mapinduzi Cup,” said Ambani, who also played for Tanzanian giants, Young Africans or Yanga before retiring.

Kenya will host the CHAN tournament alongside neighbors Uganda and Tanzania, with Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya and FKF President Hussein Mohammed hopeful of a successful tournament.