Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Francis Wadegu
1 December 2011
Dar es Salaam — KENYA’S Harambee Stars reignited their hopes of qualifying fro the knockout stage of the CECAFA Tusker Challenge Cup after they beat Ethiopia to erase the memory of their opening match 2-0 loss to Malawi.
Coach Francis Kimanzi clearly had goals galore on his set up bring in Chemelil sugar forward Victor Ochieng to play alongside Bob Mugalia with Humphrey Mieno supporting from midfield
Ethiopia dropped Omod Okwury a and introduced Bekele Godo to start in his place. In a day when rains pounded Dar es salaam, Stars were the better side in adjusting to the soggy conditions with their Ethiopian counterparts used to playing sleek passes with the ball at their feet finding it hard to adjust to the slippery conditions and the quick movement of the ball. As it has become the norm rather than the exception, Kevin Kimani’s long range free kick accounted for Stars first attempt on goal though he was thwarted by the firm goalkeeping of Binyam Habetamu with six minutes on the clock.
Three minutes later Mugalia had chance to run at the goalkeeper but the ball was held up in the clingy soggy grass and was promptly cleared by the Ethiopian defence.
The Sofapaka man was not to be denied however, in the 15th minute as he took advantage of some confusion between Habetamu and Aynelem Hailu under pressure from Ochieng to slot the ball into an empty net and give Kenya the lead. “We were confident in the way we played the opening game that if we kept on playing the way we believe we will give ourselves a good chance of winning and luckily for us we won in atrocious conditions,” purred coach Kimanzi.
The impressive Ochieng, winning his first ever start for the national team also went close three minutes later as the Ethiopians looked numbed by the rains. Jamal Mohammed’s shot from range was well held by Habetamu as Kenya looked to take advantage of the conditions to go further ahead.
In an attack by the Antelopes, Getaneh Kebede shot wide when well placed. Then it all seemed to go Kenya’s way yet again. Ochieng ran onto a ball by Mugalia and as he tried to squeeze himself past two Ethiopia players he was dragged down forcing the referee to point at the penalty spot much to the protestation of the Ethiopians. Up stepped Jamal who wary of the treacherous conditions on the ground shot the ball high but was wide.
However his mistake was to be atoned to two minutes later. Ethiopia failed to clear a freekick by Kimani and Jamal headed the ball goalwards. Mulinge Munandi added a touch to it but it was skipper Pascal Ochieng who made the decisive touch bundling the ball over the line to give Stars a 2-goal lead.
Ethiopia made a few changes with Tesfaye Bekel replacing Ydnekachew Kidane but their fortunes did not improve. Collins Okoth was introduced as Stars looked to hold on to their lead which eventually they did, leaving Kimanzi’s side still with a chance of going into the last eight.
AllAfrica – All the Time