Stars lose build up match

COURTESY OF CHARLIE NYENDE/NATION MEDIA GROUP

Kenya’s Harambee Stars were embarrassed 2-0 by mid-table Kenyan Premier League side KCB in a practice match at Nairobi's Moi International Sports Centre, on Wednesday.

Former Kenya international Asman Ngaiywa got the opener for the bankers in the seventh minute, stealing between Pascal Ochieng and Mulinge Munandi in the Stars central defence to beat David Okello.

Joseph Waweru wrapped things up for the 11th placed team in the KPL, racing clear in a decisive counter attack move to loop the ball over the advancing Okello.

Coach Antoine Hey, who observed the practice match from the terraces, ducked from waiting journalists for a post match interview leaving his assistant Twahir Muhiddin to offer explanations.

“We told the players to enjoy the game but some of them were just walking on the pitch. I hope the have learnt that if a local league side can give them a run for their money then they have a lot of work to do. Nothing is easy,” the disappointed Muhiddin said.

Stars were using the practice match as part of their preparations for the World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria on June 6. An international friendly match against Malawi scheduled for May 27 has been cancelled. “Malawi called us to say they could not get flights to Nairobi for the tie but I think it is just an excuse,” Football Kenya Limited vice chairman Erustus Okul said.

Instil discipline

His senior vice-chairman Titus Kasuve meanwhile hinted that the seven expelled players from the Harambee Stars could be reinstated. “There situation is not cast in stone but we must instil discipline in everybody. We hope to resolve the issue amicably,” Kasuve said.

KPL was due to meet Hey on Wednesday evening to discuss Harambee Stars preparations. Hey banished Edgar Ochieng of Tusker, Joseph Shokokoti, John Njoroge and Fred Ajwang from Tusker and Sofapaka’s Wilson Oburu, Evans Wandera and James Situma from the team camp at Kasarani on Monday for their failure to sign a controversial commitment letter that has sown discord between the Harambee Stars technical bench and KPL.

The absence of the experienced players showed as KCB repeatedly carved open a decidedly vulnerable looking Harambee Stars backline that started with Ibrahim Shikanda, Mulinge Munandi, Pascal Ochieng and Julius Owino.

Failed to finish

After several close calls, the bankers inevitably opened accounts when Ngaiywa, a handful for Stars, timed his run well to send the ball home with a sliding effort. Stars began to gradually exert themselves despite several players featuring in unfamiliar positions – George Owino in a holding midfield role, Osborn Monday in an attacking midfield role for example.

The prominent Victor Mugabe saw his shot from a neat turn just wide on the 17th minute. Two minutes later Mugabe put Tanzania league top score Boniface Ambani through but the lanky striker kneed his effort straight at the KCB keeper Daniel Onyango.

Ambani again failed to finish off from a flowing move that passed through George Owino in midfield to the overlapping Julius Owino on the left flank. Hillary Echesa’s drive from close range was pushed back into play by Onyango as Stars finished the first half strongly but for a goal. Both teams made several changes in the second half but the pattern remained the same.

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