Tusker manager Charles Okere says he would wish the next Harambee Stars head coach to be Kenyan, mirroring his own path into elite football as one that the new Football Kenya Federation should invest in going forward.The Harambee Stars coaching job fell vacant earlier this month when Engin Firat tendered his resignation, effectively bringing an end to his three-year reign which was characterized by underwhelming performance in competitive matches.The Turkish international guided Stars to just three wins in 16 competitive matches, and sources close to the recruiting process indicate that the race for the next coach has been narrowed down to two foreign candidates.The race for the next Harambee Stars coach has been narrowed down to two foreign candidates. One is a former player for Real Madrid and Chelsea, while the other is a South African coach.The position became vacant last week following the resignation of Engin Firat.#TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/Yzc3WtGeYV— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) December 18, 2024 Asked on his preference for the job, Okere, a CAF A licensed coach told Mozzart Sport: “I am a young coach and have had the opportunity to handle youth teams, girls’ teams, all the way up to the elite level. Coaching the national team I believe is an opportunity that each coach growing up would wish to have.“Since I am one of them, I would prefer a local coach. In the last few years, we have seen coaches excelling and doing well in coaching courses and it is high time they are allowed to do it practically.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8579882##On where the gap exists between local and foreign coaches, who have often been given preference in previous administrations, the former Harambee Starlets coach said: “We respect foreign coaches and admit that they in areas have the edge over us, especially on the scientific part.“That is an area we must invest in and also have goodwill from the federation to help level the playing field. But even now, I believe we have local coaches who have the ability and capability to do well.”Kenyatta declares himself ready to succeed Engin Firat as Harambee Stars coachAnd speaking to the new FKF administration led by President Hussein Mohammed, Okere added: “One thing I urge them to do is capacity building. The previous office did its part in empowering teachers of the game and now is the time for the current one to go back to the lower levels (grassroots) and focus on holistic player development.“Invest in youth structure to make it easy to transition to the elite level,” he said. “We have seen with the U20 boys that it’s possible to build from down to up. When that is achieved, then that will feed to the main leagues, and with good sponsors and the right infrastructure, we will be good to go.”Okere will be on the touchline this Saturday when his Tusker side faces bottom-placed Posta Rangers at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
