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Engin Firat has admitted at one huge worry as Kenya prepares to face South Sudan in Juba in the first leg of their CHAN 2025 qualifier.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has openly criticised the need for Kenya, as a CHAN 2024 host nation, to participate in the qualification rounds for the tournament.
Ahead of Kenya's clash against South Sudan on Sunday at Juba International Stadium, Firat shared his concerns, pointing out that the current setup dilutes the competitive nature for his squad, especially since Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have already secured CHAN spots.
"If you are the host, you shouldn't have to play in the qualifiers," Firat asserted. "It doesn’t benefit the players; it feels like a friendly with no pressure. South Sudan will need to play with maximum motivation."
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The head coach expressed that Kenya’s players see this fixture more as a friendly, and this could disrupt their rhythm in an already condensed schedule.
Firat also emphasized how the interrupted league schedules in Kenya affect player readiness, stating, "Our players play one match and then wait three to four weeks, which is tough for them."
Firat acknowledged that the team’s preparation has been minimal, limited to just two training sessions, one in Nairobi and another in Juba.
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13:35 - 25.10.2024
Engin Firat forced to make change in Harambee Stars squad for South Sudan game
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has been forced to adjust his squad for the 2024 CHAN qualifiers against South Sudan following the late withdrawal of a key midfielder.
With only light warm-ups before traveling, Firat admitted that the lack of cohesion could be a challenge.
"To be honest, we lack sufficient preparation," he said. "The schedule is demanding, especially for the players.
"We’ll try to come together for tomorrow’s match, but most of the players haven’t played together before, and having just one training session isn’t enough."
Despite these obstacles, Firat remains hopeful that his squad will put up a strong showing. A win over South Sudan would move Kenya to the second round of qualifiers, where they would face either
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