During a press briefing before Harambee Stars’ trip to Malawi, the coach expressed concerns that the absence of FIFA-approved stadiums could hinder their qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Firat, visibly frustrated, highlighted the challenges of his job, emphasizing the critical need for adequate football infrastructure, particularly stadiums.
“The President has assured that the stadium will be ready by June for our World Cup qualifiers, but I’m unsure about that. I remain optimistic,” stated the coach.
“When people inquire about the potential of Kenyan football, I’m uncertain. The reason is the absence of crucial elements like fields and youth development structures, despite having talented players. If we don’t address this, we’ll continue facing the same issues. Kenya has abundant talent; the problem lies within the system,” Firat elaborated.
The Kenyan team will travel to Malawi on Thursday and kick off their first match against hosts Malawi on Saturday, March 23rd.
