Former Harambee Stars midfielder Ismail Athuman Gonzalez has alleged that mistreatment under former coach Sébastien Migné nearly forced him to bolt out of the team during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Egypt.The Spain-born utility player, who made his Stars debut in 2016, disclosed that despite enjoying initial success with the team, his experience with Migne in Egypt left him on the brink of sacrificing his AFCON dream.##NAJAVA_MECA_8711091##Gonzalez recalls the pride he felt representing Kenya during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, particularly the memorable 1-0 win over Ghana at the Moi Kasarani Stadium, a victory achieved despite Kenya playing with 10 men after Joash Onyango’s red card.That win strengthened Kenya’s chances of qualifying for the 2019 AFCON, marking the country’s first appearance in the prestigious tournament in over a decade.”Yes, absolutely. With Kenya, we played several qualifying matches for AFCON. I remember the match against Ghana, which we won 1-0, securing our spot. It had been over 10 years since Kenya last qualified for such a prestigious tournament. We had a great team, and I was so excited. The Africa Cup is an excellent platform for clubs to notice you,” Gonzalez said in an Interview with Nation Sport.Odada debuts in OFK Beograd’s defeatHowever, Gonzalez’s joy was short-lived. His troubles began during Kenya’s preparations for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.The team held a training camp in France and played several friendly matches, but the 30-year-old midfielder found himself sidelined, receiving little to no playtime.This lack of involvement was puzzling for him, as he had previously been a key player under Migné.The sudden change in his role frustrated Gonzalez to the point where he almost quit the team before they even departed for Egypt.”After the qualification, I joined the training camp in France before the AFCON. I had played every minute with Kenya, so being in the squad made sense. But when I arrived, Migné completely changed his view of me and left me on the bench. We played friendly matches, including one against the Democratic Republic of Congo, but I barely got any minutes. I asked him what had changed, and he said he was trying out different tactics,” Gonzalez explained.Shabana banking on squad depth to tackle fixture congestionThe midfielder admits that the situation was emotionally draining, and at one point, he nearly walked out of the camp. Despite being one of Migné’s most trusted players in the past, the lack of game time left him disillusioned.”I was so frustrated that I almost left the camp. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t starting me. We had an argument, and I even called my father to tell him I wanted to leave,” he added.Gonzalez sought comfort from then-Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama and assistant coach Francis Kimanzi, both of whom tried to calm him down and encouraged him to stay with the team. He recalls how the intensity of the training sessions combined with his lack of playing time left him both physically and mentally exhausted.Pamzo lauds team’s character after Sharks draw“I was overwhelmed because I was only training, and on top of that, the sessions were extremely intense. It was exhausting me, both physically and mentally. I remember talking to Wanyama and the assistant coach, and they tried to calm me down. I cried a lot—out of frustration, out of anxiety,” he added.Following Kenya’s failure to qualify for the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Migné left his position as head coach.Asked whether he would consider returning to the national team, Gonzalez, who now plays for Merida AD in Spain, expressed his desire to once again don the Harambee Stars jersey.“I dream of helping Kenyan football, giving as much as I can. I want to set up an academy, and a school, modernize football in Kenya, and bring my knowledge to my second home. From the very first moment, I’ve felt incredibly loved in Kenya, and honestly, it could even become my first home in the near future. I feel like I owe them a part of myself, and I truly want to contribute to Kenyan society. I’m very sure I’m going to do it,” Gonzalez concluded.Former Tusker defender appointed FKF CEO
