Michael Kariati
17 February 2002
REINHARD Fabisch might not be coming back to Zimbabwe as he has a long term-contract to coach Kenya's national team, Standard Sport has learnt.
The German mentor has pledged his commitment to the Harambe Stars and will be in charge of the team until after the 2004 African Cup of Nations, ending speculation that Fabisch was coming back to take over as Zimbabwe's technical director.
The German coach was tipped to team up with former national team goalkeeper, Bruce Grobbelaar, who is expected to take over as Warriors coach.
A highly placed source within the Kenyan Football Association told Standard Sport that Fabisch had been paid a lot of money in advance and will have to repay back the money if he wants to cut short his contract.
Even Fabisch himself has told Kenyans that he will not abandon them. "When I signed my contract with the Kenyan Football Federation, I stated it clearly that I had come to prepare a team for the future.Therefore Kenyans should ask me questions if I fail to take the team to the 2004 African Cup of Nations," said Fabisch told the AllAfrica.com web site.
Kenya has been drawn in the same group with Togo, Cape Verde Islands and Mauritania. Only one team qualifies for the Nations Cup.
According to information at hand, Fabisch has started preparing the Harambe Stars for the 2004 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, and has submitted a long term plan to Kenyan Football Federation secretary-general, Hussein Swallen.
According to Kenyan Football Federation chairman, Maina Kariuki, Fabisch's contract runs until after the 2004 African Cup of Nations, and might be extended, depending on the results.
Fabisch has been in charge of the Harambe Stars since leaving Zimbabwe in 1997. Despite failing to take the Kenyans to the 1998, 2000 and 2002 African Cup of Nations, Fabisch has had the support of the Kenyan Football Federation.
A meeting held in December by the Kenyan Football Federation gave Fabisch the vote of confidence, despite the Harambe Stars' 2-1 loss at the hands of Ethiopia in the East and Central Senior Challenge Cup.(ACONS)
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