Firat slams Zimbabwe's FA decision to host deciding AFCON Qualifier fixture in Polokwane

Kenya men’s national football team head coach Engin Firat has questioned the decision by Zimbabwe Football Association (ZFA) to host Friday’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifier in Polokwane, implying that it will pose difficulties in their match preparations.

With no fit-for-purpose home stadia, Zimbabwe has used two different venues - Mandela National Stadium in Uganda and Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa - for their qualifying campaign thus far, but their decision to shift their venue for the Harambee Stars game to the northeastern part of South Africa has raised Firat’s eyebrows.

Speaking on Monday morning when a group of Harambee Stars players left for South Africa, Firat said: “I don’t know why they [ZFA] chose the stadium because it is very difficult to reach the city itself.

“To Johannesburg, we have a flight, but from there, we have to take a bus for around five hours to get to the stadium. It is also very difficult for us to have a domestic flight,” he said in an interview with Tata Sports.

An online check on www.southafrica.net indicates that the location of Polokwane Stadium is a 3-hour drive from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, where the Harambee Stars landed early Monday morning.

Owing to the travel logistics, Mozzart Sport last Friday indicated that Kenya’s ‘home’ fixture against Namibia on Tuesday, 19 November, will also take place at the Polokwane Stadium.

Asked about the move, which will move Harambee Stars from their usual alternative in Uganda, acting Football Kenya Federation CEO Patrick Korir said: “It would be easier to stay there than take another plane to Uganda.”

Harambee Stars ditch Uganda as 'home' venue for 2025 AFCON Qualifiers

Firat’s other concern is that his players based in Europe will have to travel for longer hours before linking up with the rest of the team.

“We are traveling with a majority of our local-based players but for the others in Europe, it will be a long road,” Firat said. “They will have to take a 15-16 hour plane till they are in South Africa.

“So I think on Wednesday it's when we will have all our players in camp, and then training a day before our game on Friday.”

Sitting third in Group J, Kenya needs to win both of its remaining matches to bear any chances of booking a place in next year’s continental tournament in Morocco.