Coach Paul Putt has for the first time spoken on why he left Harambee Stars as the head coach.
In an interview with a local media outlet, Putt said he left because of unfulfilled promises by the country’s governing body.
“I have been in Africa for 11 years, and I think I’ve been improving earning a lot of respect therefore I have a good reputation. I believe in my philosophy. I left (Kenya) because I was not given 100 per cent support but five per cent,” Put said when he spoke to the Nation on Friday.
“I was really disappointed when all my requests fell on deaf ears therefore I resigned to put pressure on them but they took it differently and went to the media instead of replying to a confidential letter I wrote to them,” he offers.
“My personal reasons is my reputation that I have in Africa. Look, I’ve been requesting things but nothing was forthcoming but the Kenyan people were expecting a lot from me. Now, how do I work with nothing? When I met the Sports Principal Secretary (Peter Kaberia), he assured he would provide everything I needed. The same case with Deputy President (William Ruto), these are things we agreed on with (FKF President) Nick Mwendwa and CEO Robert (Muthomi) before I signed the contract, but nothing was delivered. Had I known this, I wouldn’t have signed the contract, especially after tendering my resignation in Algeria thrice."
“But I was convinced things we needed to perform well would be provided. It’s the first time in my whole career that I have resigned after three months so they can’t say that I am not serious,” says the soft-spoken Put.
“One, I had an issue with my salary but I can’t blame the federation because I signed a contract for the first time in my career in US dollars so when I sent money to my family in Belgium, I was losing a lot every month. I requested them to find solution, what’s 3,500 Euros (Sh487,000) from the government anyway? But they told me to be patient,”
Putt resigned after only 74 days in charge of the national team, which left many Kenyans surprised, especially since it canme a few days after winning the CECAFA Challenge Cup.
He Belgian tactician has since taken up the job as Guinea head coach, having been in the continent in11 years.
He has coached Gambia, Burkina Faso and Kenya and now Guinea.