Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has blamed CECAFA body for “a poorly organised” and “jua Kali” tourney.
Kimanzi, a former Mathare United coach who was appointed in August this year to replace Sebastien Migne, expressed his annoyance after his side beat Tanzania to claim bronze.
Kimanzi’s troops failed to defend their title after losing terribly to runners up Eritrea in the semifinal.
He said that the teams were allowed to come with only 20 players, and the event took place when Kenya and Tanzania leagues are still ongoing, which is outside the FIFA calendar.
He also launched a stinging attack to the organisers for not giving teams enough training grounds, resting period for a tourney played at an artificial turf.
“20 players are not enough. We needed at least 23. Playing on an artificial turf for all these games in a space of few days is not something simple,” he said. “This event has happened in the middle of our leagues and getting players from their clubs is not a simple task, you have to kneel down and be humble.”
“I have lost many players to injuries yet most of these players are going back for theor club duties over the weekend. Will these clubs give us players in the next CECAFA tourney? And when we bring kids they will say that we are undermining their tournament.
“The teams have not been given ample training grounds. The resting space (days) is not enough which is bad for the players. They are not recovering very well yet football is about work and rest, the latter is not achieved. Was it the same in AFCON? were the games played on Artificial turf? Playing five games on artificial turf without enough rest is a big damage to these players! The organisers should have done better.”
Kimanzi was banned after their opener Vs Tanzania, and he reflected that CECAFA rules were applied unfairly.
He missed the team’s group games against Zanzibar and Sudan with Zedekiah Ottieno in charge.
“What makes me Kenyan? It’s my passport. We came here to play a team which didn’t have their passports, and when we tried to raise the issue, I was banned,” he stated.
Kenneth Miguna and Hassan Abdallah scored one each as Kenya beat Tanzania with Gadiel Michael Kamagi scoring for the Kilimanjaro boys.
