The head coach of the Harambee Stars, Engin Firat, acknowledges that it is odd because, in Kenya's game history, the national football team has never faced off against a European nation.
Firat claimed he has been strolling down the memory lane of Kenyan football and has been shocked by a few revelations while hinting at the prospect of Stars playing a friendly against a major European nation shortly.
"Even though I looked up the history of football in this area, I discovered that you have never faced a team from Europe. I'm not kidding—never, ever. In my opinion, one possibility for this year is that we play just one team (from Europe). The Turk said that we must begin someplace because if we keep going in the same direction", the next 40 years will be exactly like the previous ones.
Stars are preparing for their first international match in nearly two years, which will take place against Iran in Tehran on March 28. Before that, they defeated Rwanda 2-1 in a World Cup qualifying match in November 2021.
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The Middle Easterners, now rated 23rd in the Fifa world rankings, will give Kenya its toughest test in recent memory. According to Firat, this will ultimately help his team become formidable.
"I wanted the guys to learn, so that's why I picked this game (against Iran). I have faith in my players, and I have no reason to be scared. We will confront them. This game gives me the chance to determine which players can perform well under pressure...which ones have the character. It's not just about the outcome. This demonstrates how we should play against strong opponents in the qualifications", he remarked.
"For many years, Kenya has never competed in a friendly international match against a top team," continued Firat. Do you understand why? It is because everyone wants results—to get a result and make everyone pleased. Yet, there is a significant issue—how will you react under pressure if you haven't faced powerful teams"?
As the former head coach of the Moldovan national team works to turn around the fortunes of the Stars, who are now ranked 101st in the world, all eyes and hopes of football fans are indeed on him.
However, Firat emphasized that Rome was not built in a day and that everyone involved must be patient as the rebuilding process would be lengthy.
"You need to solve a riddle. Although it is simple to say this player and that player, there are occasions when they don't fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Finding the appropriate players who complement each other and have the right personalities is essential. Playing friendly games is the only way to figure out the best system for them", according to the gaffer.
Before their Friday departure for the Iranian capital, the team is now in training.
