Goal.com

Aug 13, 2012 9:57:00 AM

The new tactician must outline short and long term plans and engage all stakeholders if he hopes to be successful in his new mandate

By David Kwalimwa

It’s a move that certainly caught many by surprise. The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) recently opted against the ‘tried and untested’ formula e of handpicking the national team’s tactician, instead opting for the more professional approach of inviting applications to fill the vacancy.

And while the move was lauded in most quarters, it’s imperative to note that nothing has so far been achieved. As it stands, ten tacticians with impressive CV’s comprising three Serbs, a German, an Algerian, two Belgians and three Frenchmen (including Former French trainer Raymond Domenech) have so far made the ten man shortlist from an initial pool of 60 applicants.

Goal.com takes this opportunity to offer necessary ‘survival’ tips to whoever is likely to be the last man standing for the hot seat.

Outline short and long term plans

Sounds like basics to me.  The former tenant(s) of this office either never bothered to sit down and agree  with the administrators on targets and expectations beforehand, or bother to make public the pre determined realistic expectations during his tenure.

The standout example was the national team’s preparations ahead of the recent World Cup Qualifiers against Malawi in June.

The Harambee Stars were holed up in a month long training stint at a ‘locked’ location in the outskirts of Nairobi. This coupled with lack of meaningful friendly matches, amidst speculation over the availability of some dependable players for the tie provided the perfect recipe for trouble.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Central African opponents preferred a month long camp in China, and arrived in Kenya for the duel via Tanzania, after featuring in two build up matches against the host nation and Zanzibar.

Fast forward, a draw for the Kenyans in that encounter coupled with defeats against Namibia in the same competition and Togo in the 2013 African Nations Cup Qualifiers proved enough to cost the then coach Francis Kimanzi his post.

The incoming coach should avoid this eventuality by sitting with the Federation to plan, prepare and agree on the way forward for the national team ahead of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, World Cup Qualifiers (where Kenya are ranked last in their group after two rounds of matches), and the African Nations Championships.

Start from scratch

A quick glance at the credentials of the shortlisted coaches, and one is tempted to think that this will be the most challenging assignment yet for the lucky man. Let me explain.

For all its giant sporting reputation on the continental scene, recent results imply that Kenya has a long way to go if the country maintains the hope of dining with the mighty both on the East African region and the continent as a whole.

Part of the next tactician’s in tray will be to scout for fresh talent across the country, draw up training programs, build new team(s), organize build up matches against credible teams within or outside the FIFA calendar dates, supervise the setting up, implementation and foresee the day to day running of the nonexistent youth structures to continue the supply chain of talent for the senior national team.

This ‘project’ will require both constant support from the Government, corporate world and all stakeholders alike, as well as a patient approach from the tactician.

The most challenging aspect of it all for the new man in charge will be the burden of expectations to oversee the project’s implementation while also expected to produce instant results for the Harambee Stars. Over to you.

Perform the mediator’s role

One of the major reasons for the dismal performance recently posted by the Harambee Stars was the major fallout between Football Kenya Federation and a section of the national soccer team’s senior players.

Needless to say, such a situation was uncalled for, and the sooner these contentious matters are resolved the better for all the parties concerned.

The incoming coach will attract several admirers if he opted to sort this matter as a priority. Most of the reasons behind this fallout are complicated, some legal, but the importance of starting this assignment on a clean slate to pull all forces and energies in one direction will supersede any other intent.

Kenya doesn’t boast of many high profile players at the moment and having the likes of Macdonald Mariga, Dennis Oliech and Anthony Origi as part of the new set up will bring more good than harm.

The next competitive engagement for the Harambee Stars’ that requires the trio’s input doesn’t come until mid next year, which gives the new man ample time to resolve this matter one way or the other.

Engage all the stakeholders

A sneak preview through the shortlisted coaches and one gets the impression neither knows much about Kenyan football. To survive in the job, the most logical suggestion will be for the new man on the hot seat to try engaging former and current players, coaches and administrators on the way forward.

A detailed look down the memory lane of Kenyan football, one would be blind not to notice the glaring repetitions of the mistakes that have led to the fall in standards of the country’s most popular sport.

Important to note, it will be fool hardly for the new coach to fall in the same trap, least of it because he failed to consult. Either way, the coach will have to make an important decision on the above, as he risks having his legacy tainted by his failing to learn from the past mistakes committed by his predecessors or remembered as the person who turned the corner and heralded a new era.

Be friendly to the media

On many occasions in this part of the world, sacked coaches, players and administrators have been  overheard blaming the media for their woes.

Immediate former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi is perhaps the perfect case study to this notion. On assuming the mantle, the Dutch trained tactician decided to literally cultivate a lukewarm relationship with the Kenyan media.

From shunning interviews, to giving away little, if any information regarding the team’s preparations, Kimanzi’s relationship with the media degenerated to an all time low.

Lest he should have known at that point – that decision instantly made him a dead man walking, for these actions could only be complimented by positive results, else you’ll have nowhere to hide.

The current Football Kenya Federation administrators are renown to gauge the public opinion using the media forum, and whilst the relationship between the new man and the media should strictly be cordial, the tactician will stand to gain a lot by warming up to the fourth estate than vice versa.

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