Still making sacrifices: Firat discloses delayed salaries
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 22.05.24. | 20:23
As per his January 2023 contract extension, the latest declaration means Firat's unpaid for the period stand at Ksh. 7.5 Million
"Welcome to Kenya. When I said before about making sacrifices, then you have to understand what I mean."
Kenya national football team head coach Engin Firat said this—at least with a smile—when asked if his salary had been paid and, if so, whether it was happening regularly.
His response and body language pointed towards yet another story of neglect, but this wasn’t clear until the question was repeated to him once more.
"Man, you know that I am not being paid. Why do you ask?" he said. "It's not a problem. It's only five months. But look, guys, this is the reason why the players and I are so close," he stated.
"We have so many problems, and we don’t go out to cry. We don’t cry. We fight for our country. We are close together, and we are not going to share our problems outside.".
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It's true that there are delays. That’s the reality, but I am not here to sing about that. I am focused on the team and the results. We have to make the country happy. That’s all.”
The latest bombshell comes as a bit of a surprise, as Mozzart Sport, speaking to a “top official in the ministry” in March this year, reported that Firat’s salary dues had been cleared.
This comes after Firat, in yet another presser in September last year, made it public that he had not been paid for eight months, coming out with the famous statement that he was making sacrifices.
Then he said, “For salaries, I will answer like this, to make it very clear. There is nobody in Kenyan football that makes more sacrifices than myself.”
Probed on what the response meant, he said: “Of course nothing is paid.”
The fresh story, pending confirmation, means that Firat has not received a dime so far this year, meaning that his dues (as per his January 2023 contract extension) is up to Ksh. 7.5 million.
In his contract extension, Firat signed a three-year deal worth a total annual salary of Ksh. 18 million.
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