Amrouche promises to revolutionize Kenyan football

By Sports Editor Omondi Onyatta

Incoming Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche has vowed to change the way the team plays football. The Belgian-trained Algerian tactician is expected to take up the reigns from stand-in coach James Nandwa.

Amrouche stated that Kenya has players with the right technical abilities to follow in the footsteps of Spain and Germany, which play a passing game. “I intend to nurture a passing game philosophy in the national team. I believe Kenya has the right players to make this possible,” he stated.

The Algerian also labelled the Tusker Premier League as the best in the region. “The local premier league is the best in the region. This makes my mission easier as I already have a wide pool of exceptionally talented players,” he said.

Amrouche confessed his love for Kenyan football, which he claims started in 2007 after watching Stars play in the CECAFA Senior Challenge. “I first chanced upon Kenya in 2007 while I was the coach of Burundi. I loved the way they played and even applied to coach the team in 2009,” the Algerian revealed.

He singled out Jamal Mohammed, David Gateri and Francis Kahata as players he would like to work with. Amrouche’s first competitive match will be against Nigeria on March 22 2013 in a World Cup qualifier match. The new tactician stated that he will develop a strategy to counter the African champions.

First published in February 2013.