Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Robson Sharuko
18 June 2008
Harare — THE Harambee Stars of Kenya will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi when they take on Zimbabwe's Warriors in a key 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifier at Rufaro on Sunday.
Origi - who turns out for Norwegian side Moss FK - played a big role when the Harambee Stars beat the Warriors 2-0 in the reverse fixture at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper, who was ferried to hospital shortly before the end of the match against Zimbabwe after injurying his knee, underwent surgery on Sunday.
Origi was unchallenged when he rose high to collect the ball in injury time and his landing appeared routine but he did not rise to continue with play and instead lay motionless on the turf.
Warriors' skipper Benjani, who was close to the goalkeeper, was the first to notice Origi's shattered knee-cap and immediately summoned the Harambee Stars' medical staff onto the field.
Team doctor Wcliffee Makanga revealed that Origi was now scheduled to be out of action for at least eight weeks and could also miss the qualifiers against Namibia and Guinea in September.
Kenya will choose either Joseph Ruto of Tusker or Gor Mahia's Jackton Odhiambo to be in goals for the big match against the Warriors on Sunday.
Origi will still travel with the Harambee Stars to Harare, despite his injury, just to give moral support to his teammates.
The goalkeeper told The Nation newspaper in Nairobi yesterday that his absence was unlikely to affect the team because both Ruto and Odhiambo were very good goalkeepers.
"It is not automatic that I'm always chosen ahead of them," he told the Nation from his hospital bed.
"The two are very strong and I know it will be hard for me to break back into the team when I return to form. Competition for the goalkeeper's position is very stiff."
His club FK Moss of Norway are also keen to get him back to Europe to assess the extent of his injury.
"They are worried about my condition and have called me after reading about it in the newspapers.
"However, I have asked them to allow me join my team-mates in this crucial match away before I can go back.
"I am a staunch Christian and I believe that there is a promise then a problem and finally provision.
"I will come out strong and be there with this great Harambee Stars squad, with Oliech (Denis), Oboya (Patrick), Mariga (McDonald) and the rest of the boys to bring joy to our country," said Origi.
The goalkeeper played a blinder in the tie against the Warriors - making a world-class save to push Cephas Chimedza's free-kick away for a corner in the first half and also denying Esrom Nyandoro from a dead ball in the second period.
He also saved well from a fierce drive unleashed by skipper Benjani in the closing stages of the game.
The Harambee Stars beat the Warriors 2-0 at the Nyayo to keep alive their remarkable dominance that now stretches to exactly 23 years.
Kenya have only lost one competitive match against the Warriors in nine encounters spread over the past 27 years - a 0-2 defeat in the final of the old Confederation of East and Central African Football Associations at Rufaro in 1985.
The two teams have met nine times since the Warriors' re-admittance to the international football family in 1980.
Although Kenya sent a second string side to the Comesa Cup in 2000 which was soundly beaten 0-3 by the Warriors, that result is not officially acknowledged in the Fifa records because the tournament was not recognised by the world football governing body.
The Harambee Stars are now top of Group Two of the African Zone qualifiers with two wins in three matches but, crucially, they have also played two home matches while their major rivals - Guinea and Zimbabwe - have played one match at home.
The two teams will get their chance to play a second home match this weekend with the Warriors hosting Kenya at Rufaro and Sylie Nationale of Guinea hosting Namibia at the September 28 in Conakry.
Guinea, the pre-tournament Group Two favourites, bounced back into contention with a priceless 2-1 win over Namibia in Windhoek on Saturday.
But Guinea still face a tough trip to Harare for their reverse tie against the Warriors while the Sylie Nationale's home tie against Kenya should also work in favour of Valinhos and his men.
The Warriors also have a tough match against Namibia in Windhoek in September.
Valinhos remains optimistic that his Warriors will bounce back despite their 0-2 setback in Kenya - a result that the Brazilian mentor believes was harsh given his team's credible performance.
However, Valinhos wants his players to improve their focus - a key part of the game that he believes was abused by his players on their trip to Kenya.
Sources in the squad revealed yesterday that Valinhos wants his players to improve their discipline while in camp and maintain 100 percent focus on the game.
The Brazilian coach is worried that some players might have become complacent following the two good results against Guinea and Namibia and lost their focus in the game against Kenya.
Valinhos met his players yesterday where he is reported to have introduced strict guidelines aimed at improving their focus while in camp now that they have a do-or-die game against Kenya.
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