Ex-Harambee Stars Head Coach, Sebastian Migne, has been put on the spot by a renowned Nairobi photojournalist, who accused the Frenchman of aggressively strangling him and demeaning him in front of the players, during the team’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Cairo, Egypt.
According to The Nairobian, Stanford Ondego, alleged that an angry Migne grabbed him by the neck as he took photos.
“That day, I wanted to accompany the team to their morning training session, so I woke up at 5am and left for the Harambee Stars’ hotel about an hour’s drive away. After getting cleared by hotel security, I managed to take a few photos of the players in their rooms.
"I had just photographed Captain Victor Wanyama, who had his cup already filled with tea when coach Migne grabbed me by the neck and started choking me. I could barely breathe. Then he chased me away like a dog as his players stared in disbelief,” Ondego stated.
The photojournalist went on to state that he was so ashamed after the incident.
“Alinishika kama paka akaninyonga bwana. Hata chai sikukunywa (He grabbed me like a cat and strangled me. I did not even take tea) because the waiters saw me being harassed by the coach and started wondering who I was. Hawangenipea chai (They could not serve me with tea),” an aggrieved Ondego recalled.
Reports have it that one team player tried to intervene and rescue the journalist, however, he failed to restrain the angry coach.
The drama was not yet over, as Migne would later assault him again in the team's bus after they had a luncheon with Sports CS, Amina Mohammed.
“Hiyo siku tulijibamba tukikula (That day we enjoyed ourselves and ate) in a boat. We were entertained by beautiful women. But things changed when we got into the bus and I drew my camera to get to work. Coach Migne pushed and shoved me out of the bus in front of all players,” Ondego narrated.
Harambee Stars lost 2-0 to Algeria and 3-0 to Senegal. The team beat neighbours Tanzania 3-2, before bowing out of the AFCON campaign.
Migne later parted ways with FKF after a mutual termination of his contract.
