It's My Fault, Blame Me! Harambee Stars Coach Firat Apologizes After Mali Defeat
9th October 2021
Kenya host Mali in the return fixture this Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, hoping for a better result if they are to keep their qualification dreams alive
- Harambee Stars head ooach Engin Firat claimed responsibility and issued an apology to Kenyan football fans after a disastrous debut in charge.
- Speaking after jetting back into the country following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Mali in a 2022 World Cup Qualifier, Firat said that he was fully responsible
- This the first time Kenya have lost by such a huge margin since they were beaten 5-1 by Morocco in the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers.
Harambee Stars head ooach Engin Firat claimed responsibility and issued an apology to Kenyan football fans after a disastrous debut in charge.
Speaking after jetting back into the country following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Mali in a 2022 World Cup Qualifier, Firat said that he was fully responsible.
"I apologise to the Kenyan football fans especially for the first half in that match and if they want to blame anybody it is me.
"They should let the boys concentrate on the return match on Sunday. I need them to be focused because it will be a tough one as we want to change something, and show we learn from our mistakes," a disappointed Firat stated.
The Turkish tactician took over the job a couple of weeks ago after the Football Kenya Federation announced that they had chosen to part ways with veteran coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee.
Mulee had not lost a match in the qualifiers, managing two draws against neighbors Uganda and Rwanda.
"I ask Kenyans to calm down, football can happen. Blame me but let the boys play, they have to give them a chance to change what happened on Thursday.
"We have to improve and the reason I’m angry and disappointed is because what I saw does not reflect my team. It is not what I have seen in training. If this was reflection of their capacity, I would say nothing, but these boys are much better," the dejected 51-year old lamented.
This the first time Kenya have lost by such a huge margin since they were beaten 5-1 by Morocco in the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers.
Mali top the Group with 7 points, ahead of Uganda in second place with 5 points after they beat Rwanda 1-0 earlier on Thursday.
“To be honest I’m more than shocked because I didn’t expect something like that, I don’t know exactly what happened in the first half," Firat went on.
Mali were far more superior than the Kenyans in the game and the poor first half performance prompted Firat to make changes at the break, including changing goalkeepers as he gave Farouk Shikhalo a chance.
"I don’t know why we were so far away, we were not aggressive in challenges and especially what makes me angry is that the goals we conceded were from situations we handled in training.
"It was clear how they would play, but in the end it is my fault," he concluded.
Kenya host Mali in the return fixture this Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, hoping for a better result if they are to keep their qualification dreams alive.