Stars seek to redeem image as they face Sudan in friendly

Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi will take another shot at redemption Tuesday afternoon when Kenya hosts Sudan in a friendly match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

This will be the national team’s last international game before they face the Republic of Congo in a deadrubber 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match to be played this weekend in Nairobi.

Sudan are ranked 12 places below Kenya in the Fifa world rankings, and a loss in Tuesday’s game will be disgraceful both for winless coach Okumbi and Football Kenya Federation officials who pledged to take Kenya to the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar upon their election to office early this year.

The Sudanese football team features a rather modest side as compared to Kenya, and Okumbi is likely to hand starting places to Spain-based forward Ismail Gonzales, wingers Paul Were and Francis Kahata as well as fast-rising Eric “Marcelo” Ouma in today’s match. The quartet played no part in Sunday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Tanzania.

Kenya’s 1-1 home draw against Taifa Stars of Tanzania on Sunday made it four consecutive winless games for national team Harambee Stars.

Kenya last registered a win in November 13, last year against Cape Verde in the first leg of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. 

Cape Verde however overturned the result four days later with a 2-0 win in the return match played in Cape Verde. In the last 12 months, Harambee Stars have won just three of their 15 games (against Cape Verde, Comoros and Mauritius), losing seven times and drawing the remaining five times.

It is little wonder that on Sunday, Stars played before a virtually empty stadium.

Tanzanian coach Benjamin Mkwasa had opted to engage only local based player, leaving out the deadly striking duo of Thomas Ulimwengu (TP Mazembe) and Mbwana Samatta (KRC Genk) and even John Bocco who was fit and available for the game.

Okumbi on the other hand paraded a star-studded team that looked likely to flourish both offensively and defensively.

Zesco United striker Jesse Were led the Kenyan attack, with Ayub Timbe on the wing and Eric Johanna being tasked with the play maker’s role.

STARS STRUGGLED

Aboud Omar, whom Okumbi has sidelined in the last two games, returned to his traditional left back role as Joackins Atudo and David Calabar Owino filled up the Stars’ defensive line.

Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama and Zambia-based Anthony Akumu (both defensive midfielders), started in midfield alongside Kenya international Humphrey Mieno and Mathare United midfielder Eric Johanna alternated in play maker’s position.

Stars struggled to settle down in the first half where Tanzania’s youngsters stomped and stamped, pushed and punched above their weight. Timbe and Owino looked the most enterprising players in this period.

Tanzania scored through little-known striker Elias Maguli in the 33rd minute, but a goal-bound Timbe was felled by Ramadhan Shiza inside the box, and captain Wanyama duly converted the resultant penalty.

Okumbi said he will seek to build on the draw going forward.

“Conversion is the problem. The team is very good especially offensively, but they failed to convert the chances created. This is a result we can build on,” he said.