With the exit of Engin Firat after he failed to guide Harambee Stars to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, FKF opted to hand the vacant role to Francis Kimanzi on an interim basis.
Kimanzi, whose being assisted by Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno and John Kamau, took his first role to Zanzibar for the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup where Kenya defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the group opener, beat Tanzania 1-0 before losing 1-0 against the hosts to exit the invitational tournament.
With FKF still in the market for a coach for Harambee Stars on a permanent deal, Kenya are scheduled to start preparations for the CHAN tournament which they will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The CHAN tournament was earlier scheduled for February 2025, but was later postponed to August 2025, to give the three nations time to improve their facilities.
During the tournament’s draw held in Nairobi, Kenya were drawn in Group A alongside two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo, as well as Angola and Zambia, while Uganda were pitted in Group C alongside Niger, Guinea, Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2.
Tanzania were seeded in Group B and will take on Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic while the defending champions Senegal were placed in Group D, which is a four-team pool, and will face Congo, Sudan and Nigeria.
However, Uganda will either play South Africa and Egypt, who will play in a qualification campaign to fill the slots in the draw for Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2. Other teams in the qualification campaign include Algeria, Comoros, Gambia, Malawi, and Gabon.
Matano should be handed Kenyan role
According to Ottamax, who played for the national team and Gor Mahia in the Kenyan Premier League, Matano, popularly referred to as the ‘Special One’, should be considered to reinforce the technical bench and help bring out the best from the players, just like Sir Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United.
“We know Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno is a good tactician when it comes to locking the defence; let him head that department; Robert Matano is a disciplinarian whose no-nonsense approach brings out the best from his players and the team...let him be the Sir Alex Ferguson and head the technical team,” said Ottamax.
Ottamax further believes Kariobangi Sharks coach William Muluya could be another good addition following his impressive performances with Sharks in the top flight.
“We know the flair that comes with Kariobangi Sharks' beautiful build-ups...let William Muluya’s philosophy be our guide, and so on with the other tacticians on board.”
Kenya will go past group stages and can win it
Ottamax further disagreed with those claiming that Harambee Stars will not make it past the group stages following the calibre of teams they have been drawn to play against.
“Well, we can now be rest assured that the competition is here with us, what remains to be seen is if we can compete in the field of play,” explained Ottamax. “We also have time to select soberly and prepare adequately.”
Ottamax continued: “Immediately after the draw was conducted right here in the Capital City of Kenya, Nairobi, many local football pundits gave Kenya no chance of proceeding past the group stages going by the names of the nations that were pooled alongside Kenya's Harambee Stars.
“Their doubts are mostly based on the standards of our local league given that Chan is for local-based players, which, in my opinion, I want to vehemently defend the standard of our league and the capability of our local players to challenge and their abilities to wrest the tournament.”
While digesting the group, Ottamax admitted that though Kenya’s league could be one of the least funded, Morocco stand the chance to top the group but Kenya could finish behind them. However, Ottamax warned that a semi-final clash against the Atlas Lions could end Harambee Stars’ sojourn in the competition.
“Our league could be one of the least funded in Africa, but at least I can attest to it producing some of the best players in Africa, albeit not in large numbers,” offered Ottamax.
He continued: “The advantage that we have over other nations in our group, with a slight respect to Morocco which my prognosis has them topping the group and eventually winning the tournament because the kind of money that is involved in the Batola Pro 1 is enough to keep many of their homegrown Stars at home than venture in European leagues.
"Another advantage that Morocco has in that group is superior infrastructure and a steady youth program.”
On whether Zambia’s Chipolopolo, DR Congo and Algeria will pose a threat to Kenya, Ottamax said: “When I look at Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola leagues, yes we are not anywhere near them on the log of the best leagues in Africa but again their leagues, I will argue are cushioned by archipelagos of foreign players, who have been lured by the lucrative deals involved, this gives local players little or no chance of forcefully making an impact.
“We all know that most good players in Angola and Zambia either ply their trades in South Africa or Europe leaving their local clubs that can afford to pay to be dominated by foreigners from Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Kenya.”
Harambee Stars will play in 2024 CHAN final
Ottamax remained confident that with proper preparations, nothing will stop Harambee Stars from playing in the final of the tournament.
“Worry not, Harambee Stars. Our local league could be poor, but its content is rich in talent to go all the way to the finals if we don't meet Morocco in the semis. All we need to do between now and August is to focus on the technicalities of who our current best players are in the league in all aspects without prejudice of club, tribe, region or religion,” added Ottamax.
He concluded; “I don't believe in a foreign coach for the CHAN competition. Instead, we need to adopt a FuBu approach (For us By us) by entrusting our own with our boys. If possible let's have a battery of them in the “system”, at least the top six from six top-finishing clubs working in harmony.”
This year’s CHAN is unique - it’s the first time the tournament will be co-hosted by three nations: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The competition, originally slated for earlier, was rescheduled to August 2025 to ensure world-class infrastructure and facilities.
