The International break is usually an interesting time for football in our country. Whatever issues that have been simmering behind closed doors, they will always find a way to boil over during this time. Election matters will take centre stage with the fighting parties eager to gain the attention of some football craved fans. Meanwhile, the gatekeepers of local football fanaticism will point fingers at those who prefer European football, accusing them of neglecting the local sport. And then there’s a personal favourite of mine; Engin Firat issuing football lessons to entitled Kenyans in his press conferences.
Engin Firat has his fair share of supporters and critics. His trademark press conferences have drawn fierce criticism from many in the media industry as well as entitled football fans. Many find him condescending. I imagine many journalists do not take it in good faith that he openly questions the information they put out in newspapers. The fact that he forces journalists to actually do their homework doesn’t particularly go down well with the fourth estate.
While Firat is busy putting out fires with journalists, the fans are launching scathing attacks on social media. Many are lamenting how their favourite player has been left out of the squad while others just personally don’t like him. Firat has often made comments about the competitiveness of the Kenyan league. These comments didn’t particularly go down well with local fans.
The latest Firat controversy is the case of a player, Austin Odhiambo, being left out of the team due to a discipline issue. Fans of a certain local club are up in arms decrying some sort of discrimination. The same fans last year could not fathom how Firat did not call up Benson Omalla, the league’s top marksman to the national team. Firat’s power point presentation could not save him as in the end, he yielded to pressure and Benson Omalla was included later in the year.
This tug of war between Engin Firat , journalists and a section of the fans is bound to end in disaster. There is a lot of entitlement when it comes to local football and Firat needs to handle it wisely. Every couple of weeks the name of Adel Amrouche keeps being floated around. There’s some romanticism between the Kenyan fans and the Algerian. From where? I don’t know but Amrouche has won many hearts in a way Firat is struggling to do. Football is an emotional game and Firat is struggling to charm the masses.
On the pitch the Harambee Stars head to Malawi for a four nations tournament. It’s a chance for some new call-ups to show what they are made of and a chance for Engin Firat to prove his power point presentations are more than a sideshow. Kenya plays Malawi on Saturday 6PM local time.
