November 3, 2024

Kenya National Football Team( Harambee)

In association football, Kenya is represented by the Kenya national football team, commonly referred to as the Harambee Stars.

 It is governed by the Football Kenya Federation, which is in charge of overseeing football in Kenya.

It participates Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) and (CAF)

Its home games are mostly held at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, and it goes by the nickname “Harambee Stars.

The Harambee Stars are the name of the Kenyan national football team. The Kenyan custom of holding community self-help events, such as development or fundraising campaigns, is known as Harambee.

 The official slogan of Kenya, which can be seen on its coat of arms, is “all pull together” in Swahili.

Because the government was interfering with football activities, FIFA prohibited Kenya from all football-related activities for three months in 2004. Once the nation decided to draft new laws, the ban was lifted. 

Kenya was once more barred from participating in international football on October 25, 2006, due to their inability to follow through on a January 2006 commitment to address persistent issues within their federation. 

FIFA declared that the suspension will remain in effect until the federation adheres to the previous understandings.

Kenya earned a spot in the 2019 AFCON. Kenya has risen back into the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries with the appointment of Sébastien Migné as head coach in May 2018[10].

The Football Kenya Federation and Mafro Sports, a maker of uniforms, inked a three-year agreement in May 2017 to supply uniforms for all national teams and junior divisions.

 When playing at home, the national team will choose red jerseys; when playing away, white jerseys; and when playing on neutral grounds, green jerseys

Kenya defeated Ghana, the four-time African champion, 1-0 on September 8, 2018. 

The Football Kenya Federation announced on January 14, 2023, that it had suspended 14 players for alleged match-fixing, including two coaches and six players from Zoo Kericho FC.

Ray Batchelor became the first coach in 1961 . He was ejected from the team following a revolt among the players during a CECAFA Cup match in Zanzibar due to disagreements about his managerial abilities.

 Peter Orange, a Kenyan international, assumed coaching duties shortly after Kenyan independence was declared in 1963.

 However, he vanished in the hours leading up to a Jamhuri Day friendly against the reigning champions, Ghana, in 1965. 

Batchelor was brought in as a last-minute substitute, and his absence was never explained. In the end, the team’s worst loss came against Ghana, losing 13–2.

 The Ghanaians were a formidable team at the time, led by Ben Acheampong, a dangerous striker.

 After Batchelor restructured the team, the Kenyans and Ghanaians tied in a friendly game two days later.

Managers since 1961 ( Caretaker in italics)

  •  Ray Batchelor (1961)
  •  Peter Oronge (1963)
  •  Ray Batchelor (1965)
  •  Jack Gibbons (1966)
  •  Elijah Lidonde (1967)
  •  Eckhard Krautzun (1971)
  •  Jonathan Niva (1972)
  •  Ray Wood (1975)
  •  Grzegorz Polakow (1979)
  •  Stephen Yongo (1979)
  •  Marshall Mulwa (1980–83)
  •  Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
  •  Reinhard Fabisch (1987, 1997, 2001–02)
  •  Christopher Makokha (1988)
  •  Mohammed Kheri (1988–90, 1995, 2005)
  •  Gerry Saurer (1992)
  •  Vojo GardaÅ¡ević (1996)
  •  Abdul Majid (1998)
  •  Christian Chukwu (1998)
  •  James Siang’a (1999–00)
  •  Joe Kadenge (2002)
  •  Jacob Mulee (2003–04, 2007–08, 2010, 2020–2021)
  •  Twahir Muhiddin (2004–05, 2009–10)
  •  Bernard Lama (2006)
  •  Tom Olaba (2006)
  •  Jacob “Ghost” Mulee (2007–08)
  •  Francis Kimanzi (2008–09, 2011–12)
  •  Antoine Hey (2009)
  •  Zedekiah Otieno (2010–11)
  •  Henri Michel (2012)
  •  James Nandwa (2012–13)
  •  Adel Amrouche (2013–14)
  •  Bobby Williamson (2014–16)
  •  Stanley Okumbi (2016–17, 2018)
  •  Paul Put (2017–2018)
  •  Sébastien Migne (2018–2019)
  •  Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
  •  Ken Odhiambo (2021)
  •  Engin Fırat (2021–present)

Kenya National Football Team( Harambee)