By Andrew Oryada BBC Sport, Kampala

Mulee says the Fifa ban is a wake-up call for Kenya

Kenya manager Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has called on the country's football officials to make needed reforms to the administration of the game.

The East African nation returned to international football on 7 August, following a two-month suspension by Fifa due to government interference in the affairs of the Kenya Football Federation.

Although Mulee is pleased that the Harambee Stars can now participate in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, he believes the suspension was a deserved wake-up call.

"Fifa has been very lenient with Kenya by giving us an open cheque to try and solve our problems.

Kenyan football has problems that will not be solved in one day or even a year Kenya coach Jacob Mulee

"Kenyan football has problems that will not be solved in one day or even a year," Mulee said.

Admitting that the ban has not helped their chances of qualfying for the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt or the World Cup finals in Germany, Mulee said the national team could struggle to become a contender in their qualifying group.

Games against Guinea, Morocco and Tunisia in Group 5, postponed as a result of their suspension, are yet to be rescheduled.

World Cup qualifiers for Africa

But their immediate task is their qualifier against Malawi on 4 September.

"We have a lot of work to do, both on the pitch and psychologically.

"If we can get a win against Malawi, it would put us in the frame of mind to chase the group leaders," he said.

Despite being grouped with African champions Tunisia and Cup of Nations runners-up Morocco, Mulee is not giving up on the dream of leading the Harambee Stars to the World Cup.