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.

Origi back in Stars as Taiwo also expected home today

Harambee Stars captain Musa Otieno leads his team mates during training at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, June 15th 2009. Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN

By Sammy Kitula

Arnold Origi will be available for the Mozambique match after all, as Harambee Stars team manager Edward Oduor says Origi, who had left for his Norwegian club Moss FK last week, is expected back home on Tuesday.

“Origi is expected in the country tomorrow (Tuesday) and should join the rest in camp immediately,” said Oduor.

Also expected to join the Stars’ camp on Tuesday is Taiwo Atieno, the US-based British-born striker who earned another call-up to the national following Kenya’s dismal performance in Abuja.

Also making a comeback at the provisional squad are Thomas Wanyama, Hillary Echesa, Crispin Odula and Mike Baraza.

After landing from Nigeria, coach Antoine Hey had said that Taiwo was expected to breathe new life into the poorly performing striking force. It is still unclear, however, if the citizenship issues that locked the striker out of the team before the Tunisia match have been resolved.

Expressed optimism

Stars captain Musa Otieno has meanwhile expressed optimism despite the team’s sudden loss of form in the 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

But the 36-year-old skipper warned his players that they need to quickly “get back on track” if they are to withstand the challenge of Nigeria, Tunisia and, increasingly, on-form Mozambique.

Stars’ imperious form in the previous round of the qualifiers has been checked in this last stage, which has seen the national side occupy the bottom of Group Two with no point.

And Otieno believes the team cannot afford another slip-up when they take on Mozambique at Kasarani on Saturday.

“We need to bounce back and recover, but we said that after the Tunisia game and we didn’t do that in Nigeria,” Otieno said. “Now there are no more chances for us; we need to make sure we start winning games and get back on a winning run.

“We’ve got a vital game coming up against Black Mambas on Saturday and I don’t think anyone will underestimate the importance of that match. Now that we have had a two-week break, we need to focus and get ourselves back on track.”

Courtesy- Nation Media Group