The Nation (Nairobi)
Charles Nyende
4 November 2009
Nairobi — If you fail to plan, plan to fail, is an old proverb that can very well apply to Harambee Stars World Cup preparations. And nothing illustrates this better than their Tuesday 5-0 humiliating defeat at the hands of Kuwait, better known for oil production than sporting prowess, in Cairo.
Nobody knew of this friendly match until exactly a week before the fixture. The local-based players, who made up the majority of the vanquished tourists, were expecting to break from camp for club duty only to be told they were travelling to Egypt for a friendly match.
Their club coaches were, of course, incensed by the unscheduled match and understandably threatened not to release the players.
Foreign-based players, returning from their respective leagues thousands of kilometres away, did not have the slightest inkling of an impending international.
In other words, there was no planning whatsoever. The results? Kenya was humiliated.
The last time Harambee Stars lost by such a big margin was way back on July 26, 1980, when they were beaten 5-0 by Tanzania in a World Cup qualifier in Dar es Salaam. Half the players in the current team were not even born then.
Notable absentees
Can you imagine the potential negative psychological effect this can have on a team that will soon face African giants Nigeria in a World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifier?
Coach Antoine Hey basically had the same squad that turned out for Kenya in the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tunisia in a World Cup qualifier last month.
The only notable absentees were Musa Otieno, Robert Mambo, Victor Mugabe and Patrick Oboya. Foreign-based Willis Ochieng, Patrick Osiako, Allan Wanga, Austin Makacha and Willis Ochieng were in Cairo to bolster the local-based lads. All these players have shown their ability. But it did not reflect in the result that has put down even the most ardent of Harambee Stars supporters.
Some officials in Football Kenya Limited have excused the heavy defeat saying the encounter was just a practice match and of little consequence.
And now, with Harambee Stars World Cup qualification already gone up in smoke and African Nations Cup qualification on the brink of failure, the national coach has been ordered by the national federation to call in all the capable internationals in a last-gasp rescue effort.
Harambee Stars are reaping where they have sown - failing for not planning.
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