Charles Nyende
29 June 2008
Nairobi — Kenya take on Sudan in an under-20 African Youth Championship qualifier at Nyayo National Stadium in a first ever meeting between the two nations at this level.
So then, how do you preview this first round, first leg match where the contestants have no history of playing each other in youth ties?
Sudan and Kenya have been regularly clashing at the senior level, and it is here that insights on the possible outcome can be derived.
The senior sides have met 20 times with Sudan holding a slight edge at nine matches won against Kenya's eight. Three matches have ended in draws.
Sudan were 2-1 winners the last time the two nations met, in December, 2004 during the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup. A year earlier Kenyan had beaten Sudan 2-1 in the same tournament held in Sudan.
At junior level, Kenya and Sudan have not made any mark of note internationally.
Based on these snippets of history, Sunday's encounter between the under-20 sides will be an interesting affair as both nations look to gauge how far their youth development has progressed.
Sudan advanced to this round without kicking a ball after their would-be opponents, Tanzania, pulled out.
Their Japanese coach Michiteru Mita said they expected a tough encounter and had prepared well for it through training camps in Libya and Yemen.
In contrast, Kenya only resumed residential training a week before Sunday's match. Kenya coach Leonard Saleh admitted his players were a bit rusty, coming to camp at the end of a one-month break in the Kenyan Premier League.
All but one player in the Kenyan team are drawn from the premiership. Saleh predicted a tough match and said he would play to neutralise Sudan's strengths.
"Sudan have tall players. They play a slow, patient game. We will aim to do the opposite of what they do," he said.
Saleh has managed to stay consistent with the team that eliminated Somalia 5-3 in post-match penalties after cancelling each other 3-3 on aggregate.
Only two new players have been drafted into the starting 11 - Mahakama defender Jacob Mwangi and Tusker midfielder Humphrey Miyano.
Captain Morris Odhiambo will lead a three-prong attack line that also has Hussein Tuzo of Chemelil Sugar and Thika United's Stephen Waruru, who grabbed both Kenyan goals against Somalia in Nairobi.
KCB's rising midfield talent Kevin Kimani will pull the strings in this department together with club mate Calson Mwaresa and Miyano.
Jacob Mwangi, Didacus Oduor, Eugene Asike and Havana Maloba will have to tighten their defence act after conceding four goals in two matches.
Kenya's starting line up - Evans Adache, Jacob Mwangi, Didacus Oduor, Eugene Asike, Havana Maloba, Humphrey Miyano, Kevin Kimani, Calson Mwaresa, Morris Odhiambo, Hussein Tuzo, Stephen Waruru.
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