Paul Put quits as Kenya football coach after brief stay

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Belgian Paul Put on Monday quit as Kenya’s national football coach just two months after taking up the position.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) said 61-year-old Put, who took charge of the Harambee Stars in November and led the team to win the CECAFA Challenge Cup the following month, had resigned for personal reasons.

Football Kenya Federation has confirmed that the Belgian has taken ‘ the personal decision’ to resign – https://t.co/sjzKbrBxmu pic.twitter.com/SgycW4nK4l

— Futaa.com (@Futaacom) February 19, 2018

“The tactician’s resignation, though down to personal reasons is a setback to the country’s ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as he was an integral member of the technical bench,” FKF director of communications Barry Otieno said.

Early this month, Put had called for a more technical approach to the management of the national team in a bid to qualify for the continental tournament’s finals in Cameroon.

Kenya is currently placed third in Group F after a 2-1 loss away to Sierra Leone in the opening match last June, and is scheduled to play leaders Ghana in their second match in Nairobi on September 7.

Former head coach Stanley Okumbi, who deputised as Put’s assistant, is expected to continue training the team on an interim basis as Kenya looks for Put’s replacement.

Full Statement from FKF Kenya regarding Harambee Stars head coach Paul Put resignation. pic.twitter.com/HyJBI7q3eN

— Kenyan F⚽otball (@KenyaPremierLg) February 19, 2018

COACH PUT APPEALS FOR FANS SUPPORT:
As @HarambeeStars_ prepares to take on Ghana’s Black Stars in the @AFCON_2019 Qualifiers in 23rd March 2018, Coach Paul Put sends out a passionate plea to fans to start mobilising cheering squads like they did in CECAFA 2017. #jazastadi pic.twitter.com/GGhJwyiCVn

— Ministry of Sports (@moscakenya) February 8, 2018