Kenya: ‘Zico’ Threatens to Quit Stars Job

Charles Nyende

17 May 2011

Nairobi — Harambee Stars coach Zedekiah Otieno has threatened to quit together with his entire technical bench if he does not get a full attendance of local-based players in camp next week.

“We want an assurance of a full house next week from Football Kenya Limited (FKL), the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and the Harambee Stars Management Board, otherwise we will not continue coaching the team,” Otieno, flanked by team manager Edward Oduor and goalkeeping coach Sunil Shah, warned on Tuesday at the team hotel in Nairobi .

Otieno’s ultimatum was precipitated by the wanting preparations of Harambee Stars for their upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola that has been marked by poor player turn out.

Training camp

Otieno said he needed to have all the 28 local-based players he called up in camp next weekend to enable them travel for a training camp in Namibia en route to Luanda, where they face Angola on June 4 in an African Nations Cup qualifier.

The Harambee Stars coach, who also doubles up as the Gor Mahia coach, said he was hoping that the KPL would postpone league matches on the weekend of May 28-29 to allow him prepare well for the Angola showdown.

“Without planning, it is difficult to get results. I do no want to be one of those coaches who give the excuse of poor preparations after they have lost matches.

“I cannot prepare well without the majority of my players. I would rather not take the team to Angola,” Otieno said.

KPL Chief Officer Jack Oguda, however, ruled out postponing the fixtures, saying the league body will abide by Fifa rules.

“We have provisions for international matches in our programme. The problem we have is that FKL does not follow the Fifa rules and wants players for long periods at the expense of clubs.

“KPL has been generous in releasing players beyond the five day rule stipulated by Fifa for international matches,” Oguda said.

Duration of coaching

He added: “The duration of the coaching does not matter, it is the quality of training and players’ knowledge of what systems to employ for the match that matters.”

Otieno said the Fifa provisions applied to foreign-based players and an arrangement between the league and Harambee Stars Management Board could be reached to have players for longer periods.

This week,Otieno has had to do with just 14 players in camp. Premier League sides Gor Mahia, Ulinzi Stars and Sofapaka players opted out because of upcoming club assignments.

Otieno said Kenyans expected good results in Angola and he wanted to have the best possible preparations.

In another development, Harambee Stars assistance coach, Salim Ali is reported to have opted out to concentrate on his job as head coach with Mathare United.

Otieno, however, said he had not received any official communication on Ali’s resignation.

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