Harambee Stars coach promise to revamp Kenya football

 Coach Michel

By Fred Maingi in Nairobi

Harambee Stars newly appointed Coach Henri Michel has assured Kenyans
that given adequate support from football stakeholders, he will
transform the ailing sport to another greater level.
   The French born coach said his major focus will be to shape up
locally based players in order to lift the standard of football and
avoid reliance on foreign based players.
    The 64 year old Frenchman spoke after being unveiled on Tuesday
night at a Nairobi Hotel by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials
led by Chairman Sam Nyamweya.
     In attendance was a representative from French Embassy Jereme
Bien,Deputy and fitness coach Florent Motta,Sports Commissioner Gordon
Oluoch,the entire  FKF National Executive committee(NEC)
officials,Kenya Premier League(KPL) club officials  and the entire
football stakeholders led by Harambee Stars players,coaches, and
referees among others.
     Michel who is understood to have signed a 13-month renewable
contract with FKF said he was relieved since the next crucial fixture
for Harambee Stars is set for March next year where he will have
adequate time to put structures in their right perspective.
  ‘Before March next year when we shall have a crucial fixture for
Harambee Stars, I will have opportunity to learn Kenya and see how we
can put structures in the right place. My focus basically will be on
locally based players so that our level of football takes another
great dimension” said Michel amid thunderous cheers.
    However, Michel who was flanked by one of his two deputies
(Florent Motta) who will be responsible for Fitness, physical and
nutrition averred that he will only achieve the best results if given
moral support from all stakeholders.
  ‘We can only achieve the best results if we get support from the
media, Club owners and supporters “he said.
     Over 60 applicants applied for the vacant post according to FKF
head of technical Elly Mukolwe.
   The shortlist includes three Frenchmen, three Serbians, a German,
two Belgians and an Algerian.
     Michel who will be joined later in the week by his second deputy
coach Samir Ajam takes over the vacant National team coaching role
left vacant after immediate former Coach Francis Kimanzi was moved to
an acting Technical Director capacity at the Federation.
    The Frenchman is the immediate former Equatorial Guinea Coach. He
has previously coached in Africa having been in charge of Cameroon in
1994, Morocco from 1995 – 2000 and in 2007, Tunisia 2001-2, and Cote
D’Ivoire from 2004 – 2006.