Kenya holds its breath as Stars face Mambas

By Charles Nyende

Kenya’s Harambee Stars, same as 17 years ago, are confronted by an ambitious Mambas of Mozambique in Nairobi on Saturday in a must win fixture at Moi International Sports Centre.

Needing to win to qualify for their fourth straight Africa Cup of Nations finals, Harambee Stars on July 25, 1993 faced a cocky Mozambique side.

Stars, then under Mohammed Kheri, had pulled off a stunning 1-0 win against Zaire (now DR Congo) in Kinshasa two weeks earlier to tie on points with the central Africans and practically put fate on their own hands.

While Mozambique coach Russian Victor Bondarenko vowed to do to Kenya what they did to Zaire, the home side quietly did their mathematics.

In the end Kenya handsomely won 4-1 at a Nyayo Stadium surface described as “only fit for cows to graze” by Mozambique assistant coach Antonio Caetano.

The huge margin of victory was however not enough after Zaire blanked Lesotho 7-0 to clinch the single qualifier berth on goal difference.

Fast forward to 2009. Mozambique have said their minimum objective is to qualify for the African Nations Cup and they have targeted six points from Kenya.

Respect every opponent

The team has been quietly preparing in Addis Ababa under Dutchman Mart Niioj and after a barren draw with Nigeria in Maputo three months ago where they ran the Africa powerhouses rugged, the Mambas will realistically fancy a result in Nairobi.

But they face a cornered Kenya side fighting for survival in the competition. “This is a do or die match for us. We have to win. There is no otherwise,” defender Pascal Ochieng summed up the thoughts of the Stars squad.

Coach Antoine Hey, winless with Harambee Stars in four consecutive matches, and knowing he is fighting to consolidate his job, said: “Mozambique is definitely a decent side. We are respecting every opponent, but Kenya has to win this game by all means. We are ready for it and we will win the game.”

All words, yes, but history steeps this clash in Kenya’s favour. In four encounters between the two nations, Harambee Stars have won twice, lost once with one match ending in a barren.