Nairobi, Aug 17 (IANS) Former head coach of France Raymond Domenech is being touted as the favourite among the final four short-listed candidates to take over the job of Kenya's football team coach.
Domenech, whose last posting was with the French national team, is competing with compatriot Henri Michel, formerly head coach of Cote d'Ivoire, and Belgians Adel Amrouche and Tom Saintfeit, reports Xinhua.
Football Federation of Kenya (FKF) chairman Sam Nyamweya said they intend to fill the vacant post by October as the country seeks to reclaim its lost glory in the sport.
Domenech was first short-listed among the final 10 in late July. Over 60 had filed applications before it was cut down to 10. The 10 candidates were: Ratomir Djukovic (Serbia), Luc Eyamel (Belgium), Adel Amrouche (Belgium), Claude Leroy (France), Otto Pfister (German), Tom Saintfiet (Belgium), Miodrag Dujkovic (Serbia), Henri Michel (France), Raymond Domenech (France) and Kikovic Milenko (Serbia).
"The main focus will be on building of sound structures and frameworks that will help develop football in Kenya. All the four finalists are coaches of international stature, they have a proven record and we have to pick just one," Nyamweya said here Thursday.
But the catch is in payment of the coach. All four are keen to bring in their backroom staff, expecting the government to pay their bills. The last coach to manage Kenya from abroad was German Antoine Hey and France's Bernard Lama.
Both left after failing to get government backing and as the decision on the final candidate is made, it will be crucial to know who else will accompany them in the assignment.
"Affordability will be a crucial element. We must get someone who can help restore our glory and also take us to the next level without breaking the bank. The government is ready to pay for a one-year contract in the meantime," said Nyamweya.
Kenya's last coach Francis Kimanzi was axed from the job after he failed to lead Kenya through to the 2013 Africa Nations Cup finals to be held in South Africa.
Michel, 64, coached France during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where the 'Les Bleus' finished third. He coached Cameroon in 1994, was with Morocco at the 1998 World Cup and Cote d'Ivoire in 2006 at the Africa Nations Cup in Egypt.
Amrouche, 44, has coached Burundi and Congolese club Motema Pembe.
Saintfiet is just 39 and guided Yanga to win the Cecafa Club Championship. He has also had a stint with Zimbabwe, Namibia and Ethiopia.
Domenech, 60, led France in two World Cups; 2006 Germany and 2010 South Africa. He was also in-charge of France at the Euro 2008. However, he has no experience with an African team.
Kenya is pooled together with Namibia, Nigeria and Malawi in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
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