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Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has explained why Michael Olunga can be frustrating infront of goal for Harambee Stars, further revealing the tactical factor that can make him more efficient.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has jumped to the defence of Michael Olunga’s occasional lapses in front of goal, revealing factors that can optimise him.
Olunga has found himself on the extreme end of things in his nine-year stint as the national team’s go-to striker. When he is good, he tends to be very very good and at the same time, he can be frustrating in front of goal in equal measure.
His sometimes-profligate performances have often left passionate Kenyan fans exasperated, especially when the final results fail to go the side’s way.
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Firat has however revealed the factor that often leads to him struggling in front of goal on multiple occasions, revealing the concerning lack of reliable depth from the flanks, which can help stretch the pitch, draw away markers and create space for Olunga to get chances to find the back of the net.
“Look, the problem is bigger. It is not so simple. If you recall my press conferences, I am always talking about the wings," he told Passion Sports.
“The reason is that as long as our two wings are not dangerous, then the opponent focuses too much on Olunga and so if the two opposing central defenders can play focusing only on Olunga, then there is no way he can come out of that,” said Firat.
Firat’s statements may make sense. During the Malawi Four Nations Tournament in which the former Gor Mahia striker scored five goals in two games, he was supported by the potent wing partnership of Rooney Onyango and Ayub Timbe.
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Both flankers would often draw markers to them with their pace and dribbling abilities -especially in the case of Timbe- which would create space for Olunga to score.
“In the tournament held in Malawi, he scored five goals partly because we had Ayub Timbe and Rooney Onyango on either flanks who were very dangerous.
This then opened the spaces on the side and created the opportunity for Olunga to come in and score,” he added.
Firat has urged fans to cut the former Girona man some slack, suggesting that no player in the world was perfect, and that anyone can have bad days in the office.
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“He can have a bad day of course when he is not scoring goals. He is also human and people need to understand that. He is not from Mars,” he said.
“Against Gabon for instance, he missed an empty goal in the last minute of the match but this can happen.
“On the other hand, he scored a goal against Zimbabwe from outside the penalty area when no one thought that he was going to even take a shot at that moment,” he explained.
The former Moldova national team head coach went on to praise the Kenyan captain for his capabilities as a player.
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“He is a special player who is very important to us. I have never had a moment with the whole team to set up a structure that favours all which is part of the problem," Firat added.
Olunga has been named in the provisional squad for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Namibia in September despite his club stating that he suffered a foot injury a little over a week ago.
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