Engin Firat: Harambee Stars Head Coach Responds to Critics Over Award Win

• Engin Firat has responded to critics after he won the Successful Turkish Coach award
• The Harambee Stars head coach had faced backlash for the team’s performances
• He urged football enthusiasts to use reasoning abilities and avoid misinformation

Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has addressed criticism from what he calls "ignorant football experts" who questioned his recent recognition as the most successful Turkish coach abroad.

Firat hit back at those who claimed he didn't deserve the award, explaining the factors that led to his selection.

The Istanbul ATA Club Award ceremony in Istanbul bestowed the top honour on the 53-year-old Firat, according to Turkey's IHA News.

The coach faced backlash from some quarters, with critics questioning the merit of the award despite his recent successes with Harambee Stars.

Firat defended his recognition, citing Harambee Stars' notable achievements under his leadership. The Turkish coach emphasized the challenges of leading Kenya in football, highlighting the team's performances against strong opponents like Iran, Qatar, and Russia.

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"His remarkable achievements, particularly away performances and results against formidable teams like Iran, Qatar, and Russia, have garnered global recognition," the outlet said, as reported by Pulse Sports.

Firat expressed frustration with critics questioning his award in light of Harambee Stars dropping in the FIFA rankings. He clarified that the drop in rankings was due to not playing any official matches during a ban period.

He explained the intricacies of the FIFA ranking system and pointed out that not playing official matches during the ban period impacted the team's standing.

In response to critics, Firat urged football enthusiasts to use their reasoning abilities and avoid spreading misinformation. He emphasized the need for a nuanced understanding of the FIFA ranking system, urging people not to be swayed by negative news without considering the context.

“I got really mad because I have to explain to the football fans here (how the ranking works) because it is not their job to check how it works, but these so-called 'football experts' and journalists, how they do not know all this and yet they write that, they did not understand this," Firat told Radio Jambo.

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He concluded by urging people to think critically and avoid spreading unfounded negativity, stressing the importance of considering the complexities of football rankings before forming opinions.

‘Kenya Has No Creative Players’

Sports Brief reported when 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.

Speaking after the South Sudan defeat, Firat went into a tirade, blaming poor working conditions as a detriment to his goal.