Charles Nyende
6 June 2008
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Nairobi — Whenever you are preparing for battle you never belittle your opponent lest they use that to motivate themselves for the fight.
It is surely on this premises that Kenya coach Francis Kimanzi has given glowing tribute to Guinea, his opponents in Saturday's World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Nyayo National Stadium.
Harambee Stars' Czech-based striker Patrick Oboya beats team mate Edgar Ochieng to the ball during training at the Nyayo National Stadium yesterday. The Stars play Guinea in a World Cup-cum-Africa Nations Cup qualifying match at the same venue tomorrow. Photos/MOHAMMED AMIN
"The Guineans are very talented guys. They are intelligent. They are also very strong and have speed as well. Then they have play makers," Kimanzi, just two weeks old on the job, said.
Syli Nationale, as they are nicknamed, do indeed have a genuinely quality side comprising one of the best forward lines in Africa that includes Fode Mansare (Toulouse), Ismail Bangoura (Dynamo Kiev) and Pascal Feindouno (St Etienne)
Guinea have been knocking on the door of Africa's elite football playing nations, and have an enviable pedigree to match.
They are ranked sixth in the continent, were quarterfinals at the last Nations Cup held in Ghana early this year, have qualified for nine African finals and finished runners up in the 1976 tournament.
But Kimanzi was upbeat on Kenya's chances of registering their first win of the campaign.
"Guinea are playing away which will reduce their team strength from offensive to defensive. They know the last time they were here Kenya beat them and will want to play a tight game," Kimanzi said.
The coach said he will be looking to score early and force the west Africans to open up.
He said controlling the midfield would give him a tactical advantage as he attempted to neutralize the formidable Guinean attack. The availability of Parma's Macdonald Mariga, who missed the tie against Namibia a week ago, gives him more potent options in the midfield battle.
Tactical manoeuvres
"It is a very, very positive thing to have Mariga. He gives us more option and depth in the midfield and you need that in matches such as this where players will wear themselves down," Kimanzi said.
He added: "If our players can show their tactical discipline and have shock absorbers to absorb the pressures of the match. And if they can have patience and calm we can beat the Guineans," Kimanzi said.
Harambee Stars had a feel of their venue yesterday morning and worked on combinations and tactical manoeuvres.
Kimanzi said he was looking at keeping the defence more compact and less adventurous.
He dropped fullback Ibrahim Shikanda and drafted in three central defenders lanky Joseph Shikokoti and the hefty duo Joakim Atudo and George Owino as he looked for more bulk in the danger area.
The three together with Loyd Wahome, Edgar Ochieng and Kennedy Ayong will vie for a starting position on Saturday.
The rest of the team remains unchanged.
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