Kenya Coach: Work Begins After Nigeria Game

Newly appointed Harambee Stars Coach Adel Amrouche has lined up youth development as his biggest area of concern as he rolls up his sleeves for his new job as Kenya's head Coach.

Amrouche says he is currently working on a short term plan ahead of the Nigeria World Cup qualifier but the ‘real job’ according to him begins after the Nigeria match.

In an interview with Michezoafrika.com, Amrouche says he would want to travel wider across the country to see as many players as possible.

''Right now, there is no time to start preparing for long term plans. We have quite a short time to Nigeria and we have to get into something like a crash program. However, the real work begins after we play Nigeria,'' Amrouche told Michezoafrika.com.

''I believe in the youth and I want to give a chance to them. My philosophy is building up the national team from the youth. Setting up structures is one thing and identifying players is another,''adds Amrouche.

''So far, I have been to games only around Nairobi but I would want to travel more into the country, into the grassroots and the lower leagues and tap more talent. Kenya is greatly talented with good youth but the problem is nurturing those skills and talents,” notes the former Burundi Coach.

Adel also notes that the Kenyan Premier league is very competitive but expects it to grow with intensity with more matches.

''Players are promising in the league, especially the young players. I have been impressed so far with about three or four games I have watched. However, the pace has been a little bit slow but you would understand that because the league is just three weeks old. I expect the tempo to rise as teams play more matches,'' Coach Amrouche notes.

The Algerian was appointed to take over from Henri Michel who terminated his contract with FKF at the close of last year. He has expectations blowing on his face especially as Kenya prepare to face Nigeria in the first leg of the World Cup qualifiers in Lagos in two weeks time.

Harambee Stars have picked only a point from two matches in the group, from the barren draw with Malawi in Nairobi last year. Stars lost 1-0 to Namibia in Windhoek in their second match of the Group.

-Thanks to michezoafrika.com