Matano backs FKF decision to use ex-players as scouts for national teams
Sofapaka FC head coach Robert Matano says the plan will produce talents that will help in building a formidable team with a ‘national outlook’ ahead of the AFCON 2027 that will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Speaking during the Ezekiel Otuoma burial fund drive tournament last weekend, the former Tusker FC coach said the decision will change the trend by the national team coaches who have always selected players from the same region.
“I first want to commend the plan by the new administration. Ex-internationals are all over as well as the football talents. That [scouting] should be the starting point and that is how we will develop our national teams for both boys and girls. You can’t know where you will get a best player and such talents are scattered all over,” said Matano.
He added that the plan should be a long-term goal as it will give employment to hundreds of players.
“There are those that may not be that talented but if they are willing to learn they should be given an opportunity to learn. You may never know what that player will become after he has been tutored. In some instances, coaches will need to be patient’’ he suggested.
A week ago, the FKF Vice-President McDonald Mariga revealed plans to train more retired players as scouts to identify talents countrywide.
“We have to work hand in hand with the ex-players in ensuring we scout more talents to our respective football teams. We are rolling out measures to call upon former players to train them so that they can assist us in talent identification.”
“It will make it easier for us because these players retired and went back to the villages and they attend different tournaments in their respective areas,” said Mariga.
“Talent identification can’t be a preserve of the national team coach. He can't be everywhere but after training we will deploy the players across the country to ensure they search for talents and be the federation’s eye in the grassroots.”
Talent identification and development at the grassroots was one of the pillars of newly elected FKF president Hussein Mohammed’s manifesto.
It was an issue he regularly spoke about when campaigning for the top seat, noting the need for expanded networks of scouting.
Meanwhile, the federation is expected to name its new technical bench with former South African international Ben McCarthy tipped to take the mantle as the new Harambee Stars coach.
The South African, 47, worked at Old Trafford between 2022 and 2024 under Erik ten Hag, serving as an attacking coach for two seasons before leaving in July.
Before his stint at Manchester United, he managed Cape Town City between 2017 and 2019, and took charge of AmaZulu from 2020 to 2022.
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