Hey revises Nigeria points target

Coach Hey during a Stars training session. PHOTO COURTESTY OF STAFFORD ONDEGO/THE STANDARD

By Gilbert Wandera

Antoine Hey has scaled down Harambee Stars’ target to a search for a point when they visit Nigeria on June 7 for Group Two World Cup qualifier.

While telling reporters he had put behind him the long drawn saga over commitment letters he sought from players, the 38-yearold German said he is looking for four points in the month of June.

Mozambique’s Black Mambas come calling on June 20 and it appears Hey is plotting for three points off them and one from their visit to Abuja despite initially saying he could surprise the Nigerians.

"It is behind us now (commitment letters row). There is a lot of confidence in camp and everybody is looking forward to the match," added the under fire coach who also said he would drop eight local based players before departing to West Africa next week.

"If we cannot get the four points to revive our World Cup hopes then we have to settle or an Africa Cup of Nations place otherwise the focus is to play for the World Cup," said Hey adding that.

He claimed: "Star’s strength lies in being a team, which he claimed their opponents lack. The Super Eagles have some of the most talented individuals on the continent, but as a team they don’t do well. We hope to take advantage of that by emphasising on being united," he said.

Hey revealed he will drop three of the eight players next Monday and the rest hours before departure to Lagos.

"We are avoiding to drop all players at a go to mitigate against any unforeseen injuries," said Hey.

He added: "I hope that all the eight foreign based players we have called-up are fit and ready to go."

The Europe-based players are McDonald Mariga (Parma), Patrick Oboya (Siad Most), Willies Ochieng (Finland), Robert Mambo (GIF Sundsvall, Sweden) and John ‘Mo’ Muiruri (FK Moss, Norway).

Hey said he is satisfied with majority of the new players he called-up to camp for next month’s qualifier, but revealed that some of them still need time.

"We have seen that some of the players are still not ready for this level of competition and require more time but others have come up well. It has given us an opportunity to narrow the gap between those who are coming up and those who are ready," he said.

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KPL Round 14 Review

Sofapaka lead the KPL after this weekend's clashes following Tusker's defeat to Gor Mahia on Sunday. Here is the weekend's round up courtesy of the KPL

Sunday's fixtures

Gor Mahia 2 Tusker 1

Nigerian import Joseph Emeka cracked his seventh goal of the season putting Tusker on the path of what seemed like continuation of a winning streak at Kasarani.

b But that was as far as the Brewers would go on the score sheet. It was, however, not like they had not been warned that Gor Mahia have some of the most dedicated players in the league. Tusker were to fully appreciate this as Gor came storming back to win the match 2-1, crowning a frantic afternoon.

Tusker's Kenya international defender Noah Abich brought down Gor Mahia's most prolific midfielder Ibrahim Kitavi for a penalty award in the 26th minute and Elisha Ochieno put Gor level at 1-1.

Then, only shortly after he had been brought into the game Habil Otieno scored a 59th minute goal to make it 2-1 and send Gor Mahia supporters on the proverbial ecstatic cloud nine.

Otieno pounced after international Julius "Awilo" Owino flicked a superb through-ball from the right wing into his path.

Earlier, schoolboy George Odhiambo had Gor's best chance with a curling 39th-minute effort which beat Tusker goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch but rebounded off the far post to safety.

The other 17-year-old Gor schoolboy Duncan Owiti, previous three-goal scorer for his side, came close to the mark.

However, the Gor defence, usually very eager to go forward with especially Francis Akang'o, Solomon Nasio and "Awilo" Owino, might have paid the price were it not for brilliant goalkeeping of George Odhiambo who pulled off wonder saves.

Tusker were riding on the back of five consecutive Kenyan Premier League wins and started well and with Jerry Santos crossing to Emeka for the first threat at Gor. Emeka looked certain to score only for Odhiambo to somehow palm his low shot over the bar.

Gor Mahia responded by almost taking the lead themselves in the 12th minute, Kitawi flicking the ball on to Owiti, who lashed a right-foot shot into the side-netting.

Tusker created the first chance of the second half when substitute, Simon Mburu's neat pass sent Nathan Mutenza scampering into the box but Akang'o got back well to make a superb saving challenge.

The Brewers almost made Gor pay on the hour when Jaffery Oyando thundered a 25metre-shot that nearly got the best of Odhiambo, only for Owino to clear off the line.

It might have got even better for Gor in the dying minutes with the impressive Odhiambo unleashing a powerful right-foot drive which flashed just wide of Oluoch's right-hand post.

"It's good that we have recovered from last week's 1-0 loss to Agro Chemicals. Bit by bit, we are getting there (at the top). I thank all our fans who have always been behind us in our 13 matches, no matter the outcome," said Gor Mahia coach Gideon Ochieng'.

The breathtaking pace of the match naturally generated some heat and in the end rreferee Amos Wanjala from Kitale required tight police escort after the match to avoid jostling from the Tusker camp.

The entire Tusker technical bench and the playing unit besieged Wanjala accusing him of ending the match prematurely without additional extra time.

Coach James Nandwa said he did not "mind losing fairly but the manner the referee ended the match was quite disturbing.

"First, he has denied us what appeared as a clean goal and again he did not add extra time considering the many stoppages. We are disappointed with the match officiating. That is not the spirit of fair play," a bitter Nandwa said.

Tusker cried for appeals in the 90th minute when twice the ball was cleared off the goal-line during a goal-mouth melee.

The scramble ended with Gor custodian Odhiambo receiving medical attention for almost five minutes, an issue that Tusker picked as their excuse for allegations that the whistler failed to add injury time.

Thika Utd 1 Western Stima 1

Jacob Mugoya again sparkled for Western Stima scoring for the fifth time this season as his team led Thika United 1-0 at Thika Municipal Stadium.

Just after four minutes Mugoya got at the end of a good attack by Stima attack pivot Mark Sirengo and beat Thika Kenya goalkeeper David Okello.

Thika United, sorely missing suspended Crispin Olando, Dennis Odhiambo and Kepha Aswani, wasted a lot of chances.

They had to wait until the 44th minute for an equaliser through Abdallah Abdallah's long drive.

Saturday's fixtures

Sofapaka 2 Agro Chemicals 1

Evans Wandera, a new Harambee Stars' squad member first scored in the 47th minute and hot-shot Patrick Kagogo bagged his fourth goal of the season making it 2-0 before Sofapaka ran out 2-1 winners over a hard-fighting Agro Chemicals.

Sofapaka coach Robert Mambo sought to improve his side's attack, which uncharacteristically struggled in the first half, by bringing in three replacements at the start of the second.

One of the incomers, Kenya midfielder Abdulrazak "Abdi Simba" Alwy, crossed the ball to another substitute, Anthony Kimani, whose header hit the post and Wandera was there to head in the rebound.

The colourful Kagogo then took a 55th minute free-kick from wide on the left which tricked Agro Chemicals goalie Kevin Otieno and went right in.

Agro Chemicals refused to lie down and die and continued to make a contest of it. Ken Obiero gave them a life line when he slotted home a penalty after Hashim Mukhwana brought down Nicholas Ochieng' in the box in the 63rd minute.

New Harambee Stars call-up Wilson Oburu in Sofapaka's goal then had a string of excellent saves which kept off Agro's bid for a share of the points.

Agro were very incisive in the last 10 minutes and had chances to level in the 78th, 80th and 86th minutes when Husein Puzzo, Peter Okore and Humphrey Alemba, respectively, shot narrowly wide.

On 29 points at the end of the day, Sofapaka moved from second to the top of the table, two points clear of Tusker.

Mathare United 2 KCB 0

Defending champions Mathare United returned to winning ways after a worryingly long time and the manner was telling.

Their emphatic 2-0 triumph was over a very capable KCB and it signalled what could be a serious recovery by Mathare United.

Discarded Harambee Stars right flank attacker Kevin Ochieng' got on the score sheet for the first time in a long while. It was a 31st minute superb screamer from 25 yards which mesmerised KCB custodian Dan Oluoch.

In the 36th minute Crispin Odour made it 2-0 with a good volley off a Paul Abembo pass.

A thrilling sea-saw affair ensued as KCB sought to make a return to an honourable contest and a lot of splendid play -- dummy, run, pass, shot -- was in display.

The Bankers rolled their sleeves in the second half and Asman Ngaywa, Humphrey Mieno, Kevin Kimani and Geoffrey Maina worked themselves to the ground looking for goals. Jacob Keli and Joseph Waweru joined the fray also as substitutes.

But who did they need to cow down but would not? The Mathare United rearguard which this time gave no inch. Edgar "Fighter" Ochieng', Lloyd Wahome, Anthony Kimani, Andrew "Apache Indian" Oyombe and Kenya goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng' were on a mood familiar during their ride to the championship last season.

Mathare United had just a few days ago appointed new leadership in the club, chairman Bob Munro announcing the David Waithaka as the new Chief Executive Officer to command a new senior management team. Was the team's positive performance a response to the new initiative?

In a month's time, the Kenya champions will join Tusker to contest the Cecafa (Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations) Club Championship which over the weekend was switched to the Sudanese towns of Khartoum and Port Sudan.

Tusker are the defending champions of the regional club event and at their current form in the KPL seem to have peaked at the right time before going to Sudan next month.

Mathare United, from their performance over KCB could also just have turned a new and interesting chapter before the Cecafa event.

Bandari 1 Ulinzi Stars 1

Lawrence Owino had given Ulinzi the lead in the 21st minute

Escaping with a draw was perhaps better then what struggling Bandari may have feared. Under Harambee Stars' midfielder Abdallah Ali Breik as player/coach, the Coast team was attempting to stem a streak of losses which led to the dismissal last week of the coaching team of Douglas Mutua, George "Fundi" Onyango, Wycliffe Anyangu and Mohamed "Tostao" Nazir.

Chemelil Sugar 2 AFC Leopards 1

After defeating Nairobi City Stars 1-0 last weekend in Nairobi, Chemelil enjoyed good morale at home to kill any hopes of improving AFC Leopards taking anything away from Chemelil.

And veteran Kenya striker John Barasa, 32, just will not blow away from the lime light. His 10th minute opener continued to place him among the leading scorers in the league. His fourth on the sheet came via a heavy boot past Leopards' new Harambee Stars call-up Teddy Okumba.

Wycliffe Odhiambo extended Chemelil's lead with a curving shot from the right wing in the 41st minute.

Nigerian import Ekwe Umekwe pulled back one for Leopards in the 44th minute.

Sher Karuturi 1 Nairobi City Stars 0

Another veteran former international, Jacob Omondi, scored the winning goal in the 56th minute after he was set up by Peter Juma.

It was enough for Sher Karuturi to characteristically grind out a win at Sher ground, Naivasha. Karuturi's mean defence then warded off all the attacking raids by the more vibrant City Stars's forwards including speed star Jimmy Bagaye of Uganda.

Amon Githaiga was sent off for his second bookable offence in the closing stages and Sher finished off with 10 men. However, City Stars could not take advantage.

Sony Sugar 1 Red Berets 0

Sony Sugar bounced back to winning ways when they edged Red Berets 1-0 at Awendo, the goal coming from Dennis Onkangi, his fifth of the season.

It was perhaps the fastest of the season -- a 59th second penalty!

Source- © Kenyan Premier League