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FKF vice president McDonald Mariga is hoping to rejuvenate Kenya's national football team Harambee Stars.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President McDonald Mariga has outlined an ambitious plan to rejuvenate the Kenyan national football team, Harambee Stars.
Speaking as he joined the team’s camp ahead of the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar, scheduled from January 3 to 13, the former Kenyan international praised the tournament as a valuable opportunity to assess and prepare the squad for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025, which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
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09:29 - 02.01.2025
Francis Kimanzi explains how Mapinduzi Cup is a ‘blessing’ for Harambee Stars ahead of CHAN tournament
Harambee Stars interim coach Francis Kimanzi has weighed in on the importance of the Mapinduzi Cup tournament to his squad while giving an assurance to the players who did not make it.
“We have experienced coaches who know what they are doing and have done so for a long time within the Kenyan setting. The only thing we need now is the platform to prepare to tackle CHAN,” said Mariga.
Mariga’s strategy to revitalize Harambee Stars hinges on the establishment of a robust scouting system.
Emphasizing the importance of leveraging former players’ expertise, he detailed plans to engage them in scouting efforts across the country.
“The team is being built. We need to talk to the ex-players so that we can create a scouting network all over Kenya, giving us the best pool of players for the national team,” he explained.
He acknowledged the logistical challenges of scouting, noting that a single coach cannot cover all regions.
“We need to talk to the ex-players and train them to scout. For instance, when a match is played in Nyanza, we should have eyes there, as well as in the Coast or Nairobi. A strong scouting system is crucial to getting the best talent for the national team,” he added.
Mariga, who was elected alongside FKF President Hussein Mohamed in December after a fiercely contested election, has hit the ground running.
The duo has set their sights on revamping Kenyan football, with a particular focus on the national team’s performance.
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16:31 - 01.01.2025
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The ex-striker fears Kenya may never produce another player of Victor Wanyama’s calibre due to a number of factors affecting the country’s football.
Participation in the Mapinduzi Cup marks an important step in building momentum for Harambee Stars.
The tournament will provide a testing ground for the squad and a chance for newly appointed intrim coach Francis Kimanzi to fine-tune strategies ahead of the high-profile CHAN 2025.
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