Brave Stars hold Zimbabwe in Harare

COURTESY OF GILBERT WANDERA IN HARARE

Kenya soaked enough pressure but still managed to pull off a crucial point from Zimbabwe in a World Cup qualifier after a 0-0 draw on the artificial turf of the Rufaro Stadium, Harare.


The result leaves Kenya second in Group Two level on seven points with Guinea who thrashed Namibia 4-0 in Conakry.


Praise should go to the Kenyan defence marshaled by George Owino, Edgar Ochieng and John Njoroge for denying the Warriors, who came at their opponents with everything they had.


The Warriors began strongly with Esrom Nyandoro hitting the Kenyan cross bar from a free kick at the edge of the box after Kevin Ochieng had fouled Gilbert Mushangazhike

Then Andrew Oyombe, who was off colour for a good part of the 60 minutes, won a free kick that he hit wide.


Oyombe easily lost balls in midfield starving the striking force and Osborne Monday replaced him.


Mushangazhike failed to tap home an inviting cross from Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari just on the line as the Warriors upped the tempo and it was apparent that they would score any minute.


Then Kenya had just one of their few chances in the middle of the first half when Denis Oliech picked up a loose ball in midfield but blasted wide with his markers stranded.

Oliech later earned a yellow card for protesting when he was denied a corner kick. Kenyan captain Robert Mambo had his chance five minutes to the break, but blasted wide a perfect pass from Francis Ouma.


Oliech completed the first half on a high note for Kenya with a hard shot that Energy Murambadoro punched out for a fruitless corner.

Murambadoro was later forced out with injury and was replaced by Washingtone Arubi when he could not continue in the match.


The Warriors found themselves suddenly on the receiving end of their frustrated fans, who booed them and threw objects into the pitch to protest at the lack of goals, as the second half got under way.


Noah Ayuko stopped Mwaruwari with his foot in the early exchanges of the second half and then Owino was forced to clear a dangerous ball for a fruitless corner.


Five minutes into injury time, Ayuko was forced to punch out a free kick from Cephas Chimedza in what was the last chance by the Warriors to grab all three points.


The result sparked wild celebration in the Kenyan dressing room. Assistant minister Kabando Wa Kabando joined the team as they knelt down to pray on the artificial turf clearly overjoyed by the result.


Coach Francis Kimanzi said his team deserved the point considering how tactfully they played. "I am happy with the result and the fact that we got a point. I think we deserved this result if you look at how tactfully we played," he said.