Firat has been criticsied by several media outlets that claim he has not been watching enough FKFPL games since taking over as permanent head coach earlier this year.
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has rubbished claims he never comes to watch FKF Premier League games very often amidst growing criticism over his preference to bring in foreign born players to camp.
Firat has been criticsied by several media outlets that claim he has not been watching enough FKFPL games since taking over as permanent head coach earlier this year, but he was quick to rubbish the myth in a recent interview.
“These are the points where I cannot agree because it is not true,” Firat told Odi TV.
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The Turkish coach aimed a dig at the media for failing to provide coverage to National Super League games, which he claims he attends more often than the top division ones.
“You can even ask the federation. In the last four months, I was maximum two weeks at home, so, the problem is, I am traveling even to second division games where, only me. Nobody from you.
“Nobody from media, from other ways. I am there. Because people do not see me somewhere or in the VIP. I sit with the fans. “
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Firat insists he likes sitting with the fans when he comes to matches in order to hear their own points of view.
“For example, in the match between AFC Leopards and Sharks (at Ulinzi Sports Complex), I sat with the fans. You will not see me because nobody expects me.
“I am not afraid. I go where the fans are, where the people are. I talk to them because I have nothing to hide. They explain to me what they think, I understand everything, which is important for me to be close to the people.
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“I do not care what people on social media say. The reality is that, sitting with the people, they tell you what is really going on.”
Firat is currently in Ivory Coast with his squad as they prepare to make ammends for their opening loss to Gabon in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday by beatig Seychelles on Monday.
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