Former Harambee Stars coach James Nandwa has urged the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to part ways with current national team coach Engin Firat, stating that Firat will not bring success to the team.Nandwa’s comments come in the wake of Kenya’s recent 2-0 loss to South Sudan in the CHAN qualifiers, a defeat he termed an “embarrassment.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8457264##The shocking loss in Juba, featuring FKF Premier League players, was a major setback for Kenya as they prepare to co-host the CHAN tournament with Uganda and Tanzania next year. Despite the loss, Firat remains defiant, asserting that Kenya should not have participated in the qualifiers since they have already secured a spot in the tournament, which kicks off on February 1st.”It doesn’t make sense to me, especially when you’re dealing with professional players who are used to competing for something, but now they have nothing at stake,” Firat explained.“This is one of the most important aspects of sport: having something to play for. Without that, it takes a mental toll, and players start thinking more about avoiding injuries than performing.”Muyoti’s City Stars game plan that delivered the first win of the season against Gor MahiaHowever, Nandwa, who led Kenya to the 2012 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup final, criticized Firat’s stance, emphasizing that the qualifiers are an important opportunity to assess potential players for the tournament, especially those who are not regulars in the national team.”It is embarrassing to lose to South Sudan, whose league is not as vibrant or competitive as ours. Our players are better, yet they beat us. This shows we’re not heading in the right direction. Firat saying the qualifiers don’t matter is completely wrong; it’s a chance to showcase the country’s talent,” Nandwa told Sports Boom.He further questioned how Firat remains in his position after the defeat, noting that, in the past, such results would have led to a coach’s dismissal.Shabana issue update on Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo’s future after missing Sharks game“Back in our day, a loss like that would have gotten you sacked immediately. You couldn’t afford two consecutive defeats. I don’t understand what has changed. Our national teams are clearly struggling, and this points to deeper structural problems,” he added.Kenya is preparing for the return leg against South Sudan in Uganda this Sunday. If they manage to overturn the defeat, they will face either Rwanda or Djibouti in the final round of qualifiers.Firat has already made significant changes, dropping half of the squad from the first leg.Details of first-ever CAF Goalkeeping Course in Kenya
