Adel Amrouche: Mwendwa is holding Kenya’s football future at ransom, blackmailing me

Former Harambee Stars coach, Adel Amrouche, says Nick Mwendwa is holding the country and its football future at ransom having “arrogantly trashed my contract” which is now the reason why Kenya could be suspended from football activities.

Speaking to Kurunzi via Whatsapp, the Belgian tactician said Mwendwa is the reason Kenya risks being kicked out of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers because he dragged the matter to several court sessions pushing the costs from an initial KSh60 million to the current KSh113 million.

Kenya has until 24 April to pay up or face the music.

Adel was appointed in 2013 when Sam Nyamweya was at the helm of FKF and led Kenya to her CECAFA title in the same year, earning an extension to his contract to a five-year deal.

However, a suspension by CAF after a spat with the fourth official during a match away in Comoros led to Bobby Williamson taking temporary charge.

Mwendwa came into office soon after Amrouche had served his suspension and Nyamweya had reinstated him a few days before he handed over reins to Mwendwa.

“Mwendwa never bothered to even talk to me because he wanted a coach he could control and I am not that type of coach,” Adel told Kurunzi, adding that Mwendwa resorted to blackmail and all manner of efforts to malign my name to Kenyans.

“Even now he is really trying to make Kenyans think I am a bad person but Kenyans know the truth and they love me as much as I love them.

“Kenya is like home for me and I get a lot of support from a lot of those I worked with like the players and many other Kenyans of goodwill, including in government encouraging me.”

Amrouche has also hinted that he would love to return to his Kenyan job but “only if Mwendwa is out of office at the FKF”.

“I said many times, if Mwendwa resigns or is out of office I will drop the whole case and resolve the matter amicably and my options to this resolution is being ready to  work with the Harambee Stars once again.”