The newly-signed Kenya Police midfielder feels supporters should not be so hard on Engin Firat’s men since they are ‘still learning'.
Kenya Police FC midfielder Kenneth Muguna has urged Harambee Stars fans to be patient with the team following a string of poor results.
Harambee Stars have not enjoyed success since they qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and just last month, suffered an embarrassing 1-0 loss to lowly ranked Mauritius in the Four Nations Tournament.
07:57 - 08.07.2023
FOOTBALL Kimanzi blames Harambee Stars’ struggles on ‘low quality’ of FKF Premier League
The former Mathare and Wazito FC coach does not see the national team posting impressive results until the local league improves
While many have blamed head coach Engin Firat for lacking the tactical knowhow to get the best out of the players, Muguna, who signed for Kenya Police last week after two years with Tanzania’s Azam FC, feels the tactician has put his trust in youth who will need time before positive results arrive.
“It’s a new team, most of them are getting their first call-up so they lack experience which they will get with time,” Muguna told Look Up TV on Monday.
“They cannot get results now, it is a process so fans should be patient and wait for the team to gel. I am sure it will not take much time to go back to the level required.”
Muguna failed to honour Firat’s call for the Four Nations Tournament due to club commitments as his then side Azam FC were set to face Yanga in the Tanzanian Cup at the same time but he is confident of regaining his place now that he will be playing in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) next season.
20:31 - 04.07.2023
FOOTBALL Harambee Stars in pot 3 ahead of WC qualifiers
Kenya will be back in the qualifiers after missing the previous AFCON qualification process.
Kenya, who were partly affected by the close to one-year FIFA ban slapped on the country in February 2022, is currently ranked in a lowly position of 105 in the FIFA rankings and things do not look like improving soon.
With the FIFA ban seeing Kenya kicked out of the 2023 (now 2024) Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Harambee Stars will have to wait until November for competitive matches when the 2026 World Cup qualification journey will start with the draw for the matches slated for Thursday.