Gishinga Njoroge
7 June 2008
Nairobi — The way the 2010 World Cup qualifying match between Kenya and Namibia ended in Windhoek last Saturday sparked bewilderment among Harambee Stars supporters.
They remain confused by the complexity of moves and counter moves necessary in the attempt to organise a must-win performance against the awe-inspiring Guinea at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
But coach Francis Kimanzi appears equal to the task of dealing with the crisis. The defence - goalkeeping and the backline - played poorly in Windhoek and the gentlemen who manned the positions will not be genuine in suggesting they are being made the scapegoats.
Adjustments would be the right thing to do, like the coach has indeed embarked on by dropping some players and bringing in others whom he hopes will do a better job. It has not been taken well in some quarters.
Diminutive Tusker right fullback Ibrahim Shikanda is off. He has been a faithful Harambee Stars man for quite a while, but even he should be humble enough to accept that he cannot be infallible. Perhaps it is time to step back, reflect and be of the view that it does not mean the end of his international career. Can't he appreciate the sterling comeback of Austin Makacha, who was away for a long time?
The team did not score very much in Windhoek either, but one cannot argue too much with the current forwards. However it is beneficial to note that the best attacking teams in the current domestic Kenyan Premier League (KPL) are Mathare United (23 goals), Western Stima (17), Tusker (16), Chemelil (14) and Ulinzi (13).
Figures do not lie and those in the current Stars team should ask themselves what they are doing to deserve being in the team more than say, Joseph Nyaga (Mathare United), Augustine Etemesi (Western Stima), Justus Anene (Tusker), John Mwangi (Chemelil) and Francis Ochieng' (Ulinzi), the key goal-getters in the current KPL competition.
In the quandary of the moment - defence - Kimanzi must be allowed the latitude to make changes where current abilities offer the chance. It is not by fluke that Sher Karuturi and Sony Sugar have the best backline cover records in the KPL; only five goals each conceded in 12 matches while leading teams, Mathare United have let in 13, Tusker 12 and World Hope 10.
For Sony, appreciation must be made of their rear guard comprising Kevin Oluoch, Salim Babu, Alfred Oduor, David Otieno, Elisha Omollo and Jockins Atudo. There are plenty of reasons why these players are so effective. Calling up Atudo proves a sensible move by Kimanzi but, perhaps, he had more Sony men at his disposal.
The star of Sher Karuturi defence is goalie Noah Ayuko. His talent has already been recognised and he is already in the national squad. However, it must be noted that William Mafavi, Andrew Mbwabi, David Seda and Evans Majani play in front of Ayuko and they must also be quality defenders to have assisted in the establishment of such a good record.
Ayuko may in the long run stave off a looming national goalkeeping crisis occasioned by the disastrous performance of Arnold Origi in Windhoek last Saturday. This is not to suggest that Ayuko would certainly have saved the Stars in Windhoek, but it exposes the fact that at this level, absolutely brilliant goalkeeping is necessary.
Origi would prefer not to be remembered for cases in point that raise goose pimples to Harambee Stars supporters whenever they recount them. The last such was in the opening match of the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers.
Against Eritrea at Kasarani, with no danger in sight, he attempted a lazy clearance and witlessly sliced the ball into his own goal. Kenya stumbled to a 1-2 loss, at the beginning of a woeful campaign that also included an away defeat in Eritrea and an unexpected draw in lowly Swaziland which knocked off Kenyan hopes of Ghana '08 finals.
Great save
This time in Windhoek Origi faced a more difficult situation and if people are going to be unsatisfied with his judgement, it is because they have seen lesser-acclaimed goalies rise to the challenge.
For instance, in his last KPL match, televised live from the Nyayo National Stadium on May 26, Ayuko saved from point blank range a Tusker header, in a reflex action few have ever seen anywhere in the world. Earlier the Sher Karuturi 'keeper had also brilliantly flown to the correct side to block a Tusker penalty. Later, Ayuko had his passport stolen, or lost, could not acquire a replacement in time, and therefore missed the trip to Namibia.
As Kimanzi goes in search of the strongest national squad possible it is hoped that the following men are missing from consideration for very transparent reasons: Jamal Mohammed, Victor Mugabe, Abubakar Yusuf, Moses Otieno, Wycliffe Juma, and Patrick Osiako, Tom Juma and Mulinge Ndetto, to name but a glaring few.
Only last season some of these players were rated as some of the best in the country and indeed Yusuf was even a Harambee Stars skipper. Moses Otieno was touted as a teenage wonder who would step straight out of Kakamega High School into the professional ranks and a place in the Kenya team. Where are all these chaps?
Kimanzi and his selection panel must be careful that they do not overlook good players, throwing them into enforced premature retirement.
Guinea will not just be bringing to Nairobi some of Africa's household names of football such as Pascal Feindounou and Ishmael Bangoura, Dianbobo Balde and Soulaymane Youla. You can bet on whoever else Syli Nationale bring here to have been plucked from the country's deep reservoir of immense skill fused with exceptional strength, which has enabled young men from the West Africa nation to flood the professional leagues of France, Belgium, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey and Scotland, to name a few.
But Kenyan footballers have often shown resilience to defy huge odds against them. In fact, in the current Harambee Stars squad Arnold Origi, McDonald Mariga, Titus Mulama, Robert Mambo, Ali Mohammed Breik and Dennis Oliech would be unafraid of Guinea.
During the 2006 African Nations Cup qualifiers, these men split the tie with Guinea, each team winning their home legs. It was only an upset away loss to lowly-rated Botswana that ultimately shut the Harambee Stars out of taking part in the 2006 finals in Egypt.
Home record
Thanks to the six battle-hardened men, Kenyans can expect Harambee Stars to live up to their good home record built on great results in Nairobi against such luminary teams as Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
Kimanzi comes under the spot-light as a leader and instructor of the current team. The key experienced players, however, must step up to support their coach and show direction to the newer boys. But will the young Kimanzi be overwhelmed by the daunting task of international football which is an entirely different kettle of fish from the familiar KPL scene his Mathare United team currently dominates?
There will be absolutely no room for more slip-ups after the 1-2 loss in Windhoek. Beating Guinea in Nairobi on Saturday and Zimbabwe next weekend is mandatory. So will the return with Namibia on September 6 be.
Anger over the failure to snatch at least a point in Windhoek last Saturday ought to propel the Harambee Stars to the urgency of the job ahead if they are to make the second round of the 2010 World Cup/African Nations.
In their qualifying group 5 of the 1998 Nations Cup campaign, Kenyans considered Gabon and Namibia as lightweights and Harambee Stars were confident of going to the finals in Burkina Faso alongside the fourth pool member, the giants of Cameroon.
But even though Kenya held the Indomitable Lions 0-0 in Nairobi and 1-1 in Yaounde, and also beat Gabon 1-0 in Nairobi, a fatal blow was inflicted by the "unknown" Namibia who clobbered the Harambee Stars 1-0 in Windhoek and by the same margin in the Nairobi return. That's why last Saturday's defeat really rankles because it appears Namibia set the stage to spoil a Kenyan party yet again.
Good news
It is very good news that Dennis Oliech's late second half injury in Windhoek may not jeopardise his chances of meeting Guinea. Oliech played well against Namibia. In fact, his coming off eased the psychological pressure off the Namibians and the home team was able to push forward for their winner.
Had Oliech not retired, this would almost certainly not have happened. Was the knock after a collision with the Namibian 'keeper that serious that he would not have limped through to the end. Was it a naive gamble by Kimanzi to take off Oliech; perhaps because a draw was in the bag?
Saturday is a perfect setting for Oliech to shine and settle a score, ironically not with Guinea, but with Namibia even before they come to Nairobi on September 6 for what surely will be a revenge mission for all Kenyans over Namibia.
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