Courtesy of thestar.co.ke
Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche sensationally revealed that Gor
Mahia striker Paul Mungai Kiongera missed out on an opportunity to join a
‘German club’ early this season due to an injury he sustained in the
Kenya premier league match pitting Gor and Sofapaka.
Kiongera scored the stunning winner in the 1-0 win in the first league match of the season for Zdravko Logaruisc’s men and then limped off injured and has since not featured for Gor since.
The injury cost Gor Mahia an estimated Sh87.5 million in transfer fee. Amrouche disclosed the German official was willing to pay 800,000 euros to get the services of the Kiongera.
“Had the transfer materialised, it could have changed the fortunes of Gor as a club and Kiongera as a player,” said Amrouche. The former KCB hit man has now recovered sufficiently enough and is back in training with Gor.
“ A German Club official who is a friend of mine told me that he was looking for a striker and I told him about Kiongera . I also put forward Dennis oliech’s name but he picked out Kiongera. He said he watched Kiongera’s goal against Sofapaka and he liked it,” revealed Amrouche.
“I talked to the player about it and advised him that he should talk to his club coach and officials so that they can be more cautious with him to avoid anything scuttling the deal but unfortunately he got injured and with it went the opportunity,” added Amrouche.
Kiongera confirmed the national team coach had indeed talked to him about the possible switch to the professional ranks in Europe but had not disclosed to him the club nor any more details about the deal.
“The coach called me and told me that a club from Germany wanted my services but I had no contact with any official from the club. I then got injured and I have not had about the deal since,” the former Friends School Kamusinga star admitted.
The Stars coach added that his role as Kenyan coach is to ensure the fortunes of the country’s national team and its players improve under his watch.
He said he would continue to use his contacts in Europe to enhance the opportunities for the best players in the country to pursue professional football abroad.
“It will delight me immensely if I help a player in Kenya get the chance to play in a top league in Europe. The country has top talent and it only needs to be harnessed for them to realise their full potential,” the Belgian tactician remarked.
It is not the first time national team coach has sought to link a Kenyan player to a club in Europe. In 2009, then Stars coach Antoine Hey arranged for Tusker midfielder Peter Opiyo to have trials with Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Kiongera scored the stunning winner in the 1-0 win in the first league match of the season for Zdravko Logaruisc’s men and then limped off injured and has since not featured for Gor since.
The injury cost Gor Mahia an estimated Sh87.5 million in transfer fee. Amrouche disclosed the German official was willing to pay 800,000 euros to get the services of the Kiongera.
“Had the transfer materialised, it could have changed the fortunes of Gor as a club and Kiongera as a player,” said Amrouche. The former KCB hit man has now recovered sufficiently enough and is back in training with Gor.
“ A German Club official who is a friend of mine told me that he was looking for a striker and I told him about Kiongera . I also put forward Dennis oliech’s name but he picked out Kiongera. He said he watched Kiongera’s goal against Sofapaka and he liked it,” revealed Amrouche.
“I talked to the player about it and advised him that he should talk to his club coach and officials so that they can be more cautious with him to avoid anything scuttling the deal but unfortunately he got injured and with it went the opportunity,” added Amrouche.
Kiongera confirmed the national team coach had indeed talked to him about the possible switch to the professional ranks in Europe but had not disclosed to him the club nor any more details about the deal.
“The coach called me and told me that a club from Germany wanted my services but I had no contact with any official from the club. I then got injured and I have not had about the deal since,” the former Friends School Kamusinga star admitted.
The Stars coach added that his role as Kenyan coach is to ensure the fortunes of the country’s national team and its players improve under his watch.
He said he would continue to use his contacts in Europe to enhance the opportunities for the best players in the country to pursue professional football abroad.
“It will delight me immensely if I help a player in Kenya get the chance to play in a top league in Europe. The country has top talent and it only needs to be harnessed for them to realise their full potential,” the Belgian tactician remarked.
It is not the first time national team coach has sought to link a Kenyan player to a club in Europe. In 2009, then Stars coach Antoine Hey arranged for Tusker midfielder Peter Opiyo to have trials with Fortuna Dusseldorf.