Gor Mahia boss calls for sacking of coach Firat

By Peter Ochieng

Gor Mahia Secretary General Sam Ocholla has called for the sacking of national football team, Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat.

Ocholla, an astute businessman and 2024 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential candidate said Firat has nothing to offer to the national team.

Given the fact that Harambee Stars’ chances of booking a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) slot are slim, Ocholla said, the Turkish tactician should be relieved of his duties, so that the team starts on clean slate ahead of the 2025 CHAN championships and AFCON 2027.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will co-host the two football tournaments.

Beating Namibia and managing a draw against Zimbabwe in the qualifiers, Ocholla said were ‘lucky results.’

“Firat should go home, those are just lucky results, beating Namibia and drawing against Zimbabwe in the 2025 Afcon qualifiers, and I can tell you that we are crawling as a national team,” he said.

Ocholla claimed that Gor Mahia coach Leonardo Martins Neiva, has better qualifications than Firat.

“Let me tell you the truth, even our team's Gor Mahia head coach has better qualifications than Firat’s. When you want to appoint Harambe Stars head coach you should consider the merits and demerits,” he stated.

“When we advertised for Gor Mahia’s head coach vacancy, we got around 15 international coaches. I can tell you that their credentials were far more professional and better than Firat.”

The SG faulted Firat for selecting average players, when national duty calls. “When you look at how he is making the selection of players you wonder which kind of a coach is this. He comes from abroad then takes the job knowing very well that the national team squad will be manipulated and he will be remote-controlled on who to give a call up and who not to.”

Ocholla’s sentiments were echoed by former Harambee Stars coach, James Nandwa.