Harambee Stars ex-coaches Okumbi, Zico lead the list of tacticians set to replace sacked Mulee
Former Harambee Stars coaches Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno and Stanley Okumbi already lead the list of possible tacticians to replace sacked Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) bosses are believed to have spent the better part of yesterday deliberating on who to pick for the hot seat, with the team’s next World Cup qualifier quickly approaching.
Stars are expected to meet Group E leaders Mali on October 6, which is about three weeks from now and after sharing spoils in their first two group matches, the Mali date would be crucial, because a win would see them strongly revive their quest for a first ever appearance at the global showpiece.
When reached for comment about the possibility of re-appoint one of the duo, FKF presi- dent Nick Mwendwa did not confirm nor deny.
FKF parted ways with Mulee who was having his fifth stint with the side, on Wednesday night after a long meeting.
The federation Chief Executive Barry Otieno announced that they had decided to part ways with the veteran tactician turned radio presenter, on mutual consent.
“Football Kenya Federation and Harambee Stars Head Coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, his assistant Twahir Muhidin and Goalkeeping Coach Haggai Azande have reached a decision to part ways by mutual consent, effective immediately.
Assistant coaches Ken Odhiambo and William Muluya will remain in the team as the fed- eration works to reconstruct the Harambee Stars tech- nical bench, ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers against Mali, scheduled for October 6, and October 12, home and away respectively,” Otieno said.
He added: “FKF is immensely grateful to coach Mulee and his departing members of staff for their dedicated service and workmanship. The federation wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.”
Otieno added that the search for a new national team head coach was already underway and an announcement would be made shortly. “I have been going through a lot in my life and that is why I decided to quit the job,” said Mulee during a morning radio show.
He added: “After returning to the country from my India medical trip, a lot of things changed. I felt like I was not giving 100 per cent to the national team at this crucial moment.”
People Sport has, however, reliably learnt that the federation had lost their patience with Mulee who had been tasked with steering the team to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup, after having a slow start to the campaign.
It’s believed that he had also lost control of the changing room as he also forced a section of players to wish his fellow radio presenter Joseph Oyoo popularly known as Gidi Gidi’ a happy birthday through a video, a few hours before their crutial match against Rawnda, when they were supposed to be concentrating on the match.
The move came on a day that Kenya slighted leaped in the latest Fifa world rankings as they are now placed 102.
Mulee who was making his fifth stint with the nation- al side, won three out of eight matches in charge, two of those matches won being friendly build-up matches against lowly ranked South Sudan and Tanzania.
