Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat talks Russia friendly: A historic showdown in the making

An exciting showdown is on the horizon as the Kenyan national football team, Harambee Stars, prepares to face off against Russia on Monday evening. Engin Firat, the head coach of the Kenyan team, shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated match set for Monday, October 16.

This encounter holds particular significance as it marks Kenya's first-ever match against a European team, and Firat couldn't be more thrilled about the opportunity to test his team's mettle on this historic occasion.

Firat, a Turkish specialist who previously led the national team of Moldova, is no stranger to encounters with the Russian national team. In a recent interview with Russian outlet Sport Express , he recollected his prior match against Russia in the fall of 2020 and discussed the transformations within the Russian squad, the absence of Artem Dzyuba, and his views on the ban imposed by UEFA on Russia.

Q: What are your expectations before the match with Russia?

Firat: We are meeting with a really strong team, which is among the top 40 best in the world. Apart from the match with Egypt, where there was a second team, your team has not lost for more than two years.

Q: How did you get the idea to play with the Russian national team?

Firat: Since I joined the Kenyan national team, I have changed a lot here. We recently played Qatar and Iran, and the meeting with Russia will be Kenya's first match against a European team. This is a good opportunity to show the national team players their level. This is a historic day for us!

Q: Did you notice that Dziuba (Lokomotiv Moscow striker) is missing?

Engin Firat's most trusted Lieutenants since taking over at Harambee Stars

Firat: Certainly. I believe that this greatly affects Russia’s attacking potential. He hasn’t been called up to the national team for a long time, but every good player ends sooner or later. This shift has made the Russian team less predictable in their attacking strategies, as they now boast an array of players with different playing styles.

Q: Who would you single out from the current composition of the Russian national team?

Firat: All your players are very well equipped technically, everyone can make a good pass at any distance. You have a Wolves right-back who is very talented. Unfortunately, now your team only plays friendly matches. But this team can become even stronger than the one with Dziuba. You just need to give it time.

Q: How do you feel about the suspension of Russia from official matches by UEFA and FIFA?

Firat: I always separate sports and politics. These are my principles. And this is exactly what was one of the reasons why I want to play against Russia. I believe that everyone in the world should separate sports and politics. Football should unite people, not the other way around.

Q: Why is the match taking place in Turkey?

Firat: Honestly, I asked that the match be held in Doha (Qatar), but they told me that it could be very hot there at that time. That's why we settled on Antalya. I think this game will be like a home game for Russia. You know how many Russians there are in Turkey. The stadium will be full, so I expect a good atmosphere and a lot of fans! The weather will be good and getting to this stadium will not be difficult.

The international friendly match-up takes place at the Mardan Stadyumu in Antalya from 1900 EAT.