“Kenya Has No Creative Players!” Harambee Stars Coach Says so After South Sudan Defeat

• Harambee Stars' Head Coach has pinned the loss to South Sudan on a number of factors
• Kenya lost to a 167th ranked nation by FIFA in front of their home crowd at Kasarani Stadium
• The team put in a completely different performance from the one that saw them beat Qatar a few days earlier

Harambee Stars Head Coach Engin Firat sensationally claimed that Kenya lacks creative players following the damaging defeat to South Sudan on Tuesday, September 12.

The national football team went down to Africa's youngest nation by a solitary goal in front of a well-attended game at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Kenya Police striker Tito Okello pounced on an uncharacteristic error from Joseph Okumu to score after just two minutes. The Bright Stars then sat back and defended to record their first win over their neighbours in five meetings.

When Sofyan Amrabat wiped out Kylian Mbappe as he seals Man United move, video

Football

Kenya's captain, Michael Olunga and Keneth Muguna were guilty of missing open chances to equalise and even win the game for the home side.

The result instantly erased all the good memories the national team had conjured last week when they beat 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar 2-1 on their own home turf.

Firat: I have not been paid

Speaking after the South Sudan defeat, Firat went into a tirade, blaming poor working conditions as a detriment to what he was trying to achieve. The Turkish manager claimed he hadn't been paid for close to eight months.

"It is true I haven’t been paid for months now. There is a real challenge in all this, I find it difficult to explain to my family why I continue to do my job without getting paid," he said, as quoted by People Daily.

Firat then bemoaned the lack of creative players in the national team set up to beat low blocks in one-on-one situations.

Benteke brace gives Rooney's D.C. United playoff boost

Football

"Kenya lacks creative players. Players who can beat opponents on 1V1. We have problems in the flanks here in Kenyan football compared to internationally," as captured by Nation Sports.

In both games against Qatar and South Sudan, the 53-year-old started with three out-and-out number 9s, with Elvis Rupia and Masoud Juma complementing Michael Olunga up front.

Firat has promised to look for another friendly game in the next international window before Kenya turns its attention to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in November.

Why Olunga can't join Everton directly

Not many local players have had the chance to play abroad in the lucrative leagues, but Olunga ticked this off his bucket list with stints in Sweden, Spain, Japan, and Qatar.

Olunga might not have hit the same levels of playing in Europe's top five leagues as Victor Wanyama, McDonald Mariga, or Dennis Oliech - but coming from Kenya and rising to the top of the Qatari and Japanese leagues is a win in itself.

He was recently linked with a move to Everton, who survived relegation by a whisker last season, but as Sports Brief previously explained, the Harambee Stars captain cannot seal a direct move to the Toffees or any other Premier League side.