Charles Nyende
1 December 2011
Tension eased in the Harambee Stars camp on Thursday after Kenya’s first victory in the Tusker Cecafa Challenge Cup.
Team captain Pascal Ochieng, a surprise exclusion from the KPL player of the year award nominees’ list, expressed relief after securing a win under great pressure.
“The Ethiopia match was very important. It was our life line in the competition and we knew losing would have meant the end of our campaign,” Ochieng said on Thursday.
“We played with conviction and determination but that match is over now and we need to focus on our match against Sudan. This is a group of death and we need to be at our best,” the Rangers FC defender added.
Mugalia sparkles
Bob Mugalia, one of the four surviving members of Stars’ squad that made an embarrassing exit at last year’s tournament, led from the front to score Kenya’s first goal in their 2-0 victory over Ethiopia.
The Congelese-turned-Kenyan seems a favourite of many, going by the number of congratulatory messages on his Facebook page.
“Bob, hiyo bao yako imetung’arisho juu zaidi,” – Bob, your goal has made us shine – one fan expressed his joy.
For Kenya coach Francis Kimanzi, it was business as usual as he took the team through a training session at dawn yesterday and later in the afternoon at the Tanzania Football Federation grounds.
Kimanzi is acutely aware qualification to the knock-out stage is far from assured. Kenya lie second in the group with three points and must beat third-placed Sudan (two points) to guarantee passage to the quarter-finals.
Rwanda, meanwhile, take on tournament lightweights Djibouti today and are almost certain of finishing on top of Group A.
Team’s weaknesses
Amavubi Stars’ Serbian coach, Sredojovic Milutin, said despite beating hosts Tanzania 1-0 and Zimbabwe 2-0, his side still has a lot of work to do as he seeks to further strengthen the team’s weaknesses.
Milutin is likely to snuff the temptation to rest his key players and continue with the impressive momentum as Rwanda search for only their second title in the tournament.
Striker Olivier Karageze, easily Rwanda’s best player of his generation, will once again lead the attack partnered by the productive Meddie Kagere.
No disrespect to Djibouti, but with the form that Rwanda has displayed in Dar, the underdogs will be fighting to limit their margin of loss.
The second match, a Group C affair between table leaders Malawi and Ethiopia, will have a lot at stake as both sides look to secure a quarter-final spot.
Ethiopia, with just a point from two matches, must win to stay in contention for a knock-out spot. Malawi, on four points, top the group and will look to consolidate their lead.
It will be an interesting clash of styles between the elaborate, passing game of Ethiopia and the more direct style of Malawi.
Friday’s Fixtures: Group A – Rwanda v Djibouti (2pm). Group C – Ethiopia v Malawi (4pm).
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