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The former Harambee Stars coach has questioned Firat's tactics during the side's 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe last Friday.
Following Harambee Stars' goalless draw against The Warriors of Zimbabwe in their opening 2025 AFCON qualifier, former Harambee Stars coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has voiced his concerns over the team’s performance and tactical choices.
Kenya, hosting the match in Uganda due to stadium issues, failed to secure a win, leaving many fans and stakeholders feeling like it was an opportunity missed.
The major talking point has been coach Engin Firat’s decision to bench all three of the recognized strikers in the squad, a move that has been met with widespread criticism.
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Sharing his views, Mulee emphasized the absence of a "predator" in front of goal, noting that the team lacked a clear goal threat throughout the match.
“We were not brave enough to pick a striker. We did not have someone hungry upfront, a predator,” Mulee said as quoted on Mozzart Sport.
“It is Firat’s tactics, I do not want to go into that, but what I saw at that game, I do not think we were going to score at any given point,” he added.
Mulee, who previously coached Harambee Stars and Tusker FC, expressed frustration with the team's setup, particularly the decision to play some players out of position.
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He specifically pointed to Duke Abuya, who was deployed as a striker despite traditionally excelling in a deeper attacking role.
“I saw Duke Abuya play as a striker, when you look at him from way back, he knows to play behind the striker. When you make him the one to face the goal first, it becomes difficult but a natural striker,” he explained.
The former coach argued that one of the three natural strikers—Jonah Ayunga, Benson Omala, or Masoud Juma—should have been fielded to provide the necessary attacking edge.
“Maybe Ayunga, Omala, or Avire—someone who was there. That was our major undoing. I would not say that his [Firat’s] tactics were bad, but I would say that he lacked a striker,” Mulee remarked.
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While not directly condemning Firat’s tactics, Mulee made it clear that he would have approached the game differently, insisting that an out-and-out striker was essential for a match of this magnitude.
“As a coach, I would not play like that without an out-and-out striker. Omala has been playing there, Avire has been playing there, and they know when to score goals,” Mulee concluded.
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