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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