Ex-Stars coach Paul Put 'close to landing new job'

What you need to know:

  • Nation Sport understands the Belgian is among 23 coaches shortlisted for the job that fell vacant following the sacking of Kanfory Bangoura last month.
  • Put was appointed as Stars coach on November 18, 2017 during the annual FKF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mombasa and led Kenya to the Cecafa Senior Challenge title last year.
  • Mathare United coach Francis Kimanzi has been linked to the job with further reports indicating a foreign coach will be hired in a month’s time.

Barely two days after it emerged he had resigned as Harambee Stars head coach, Belgian tactician Paul Put is close to taking over the Guinea national team job.

Nation Sport understands the Belgian is among 23 coaches shortlisted for the job that fell vacant following the sacking of Kanfory Bangoura last month.

“He applied for the job through his manager and he likes the West African culture. He stands a high chance because he has experience of coaching in this region,” said a source close to the coach.

“The country also needs a coach who will lead them in the 2019 Nations Cup qualifying campaign,” added the source.

FINANCIAL CRISIS

The former Gambia and Burkina Faso coach had requested to have “professional trainers” on board, a suggestion FKF reportedly turned down citing financial challenges owing to the withdrawal of SportPesa as the official sponsors.

The betting firm was paying part of his said Sh2 million salary with the government topping up the remainder.

“I am trying to improve the standards of football in Kenya so I did my propositions from my Cecafa report on what I think has to be done so it’s up to FKF to make the decision,” Put told Journalists in an interview after the launch of 2018 World Cup trophy tour in Nairobi on February 7.

Put was appointed as Stars coach on November 18, 2017 during the annual FKF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mombasa and led Kenya to the Cecafa Senior Challenge title last year.

Meanwhile, Mathare United coach Francis Kimanzi has been linked to the job with further reports indicating a foreign coach will be hired in a month’s time.