COURTESY OF THE NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya competitively meet Zimbabwe for the first time in a decade in a World Cup/Africa Cup of Nation, Group Two qualifier at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
The two former Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup rivals last met on December 9, 1989 in Nairobi in the regional tournament. The tie was won by Kenya 2-1.
Outside Cecafa, Harambee Stars and the Warriors have clashed twice in African Cup of Nations qualifiers in July, 1987. The two sides traded draws, 1-1 in Zimbabwe and 0-0 in the return match in Kenya.
In all, the protagonists have locked horns eight times. Kenya hold the edge with three wins to Zimbabwe’s one. Four encounters have resulted in draws.
On that basis, Kenya would naturally start as favourites but coach Francis Kimanzi has categorically refused to accept that tag. “Zimbabwe are a good team and will give us a good competition. They won last weekend (2-0 over Namibia) and will be tough to play,” Kimanzi said at a training session this week.
The Warriors lead the group with four points after their barren away draw with Guinea and 2-0 home against Namibia last Sunday. Kenya stand second with three points from their 2-0 win at home to group favourites Guinea last Saturday.
Intriguing encounter
The qualifiers at this stage are at their crucial half-way point when table standings will give a probable picture of how the groups will turn out. Both teams know a win will be vital in the race for 2010 World Cup tickets.
“Zimbabwe are targeting winning the group and they are coming into the game with their mind on a victory. We also need those three points,” Harambee Stars captain Robert Mambo said.
The stage is thus set for an intriguing encounter between two unfamiliar rivals who once used to meet as regularly as night and day. For Kenya, the man to watch is obviously Manchester City’s striker Benjani Mwaruwari.
The big striker burst to fame in January 2006 when English Premier League side Portsmouth forked out a club record £4.1 million to secure his services from French Ligue One club Auxerre.
He, however, did not live up to his billing and was later off-loaded to Man City last season.
The Zimbabweans have another striker in the name of Gilbert Mushangazhike of PSL side Orlando Pirates, who has scored two goals so far in this campaign.
The duo will spearhead the Warriors attack against a Kenyan defence that has been repeatedly questioned over its reliability. Kimanzi has, however, brushed the concerns aside saying he had no problem in that department.
“We scored two goals against Guinea and kept a clean sheet so I do not have any problem there,” he said.
A vote of confidence for the backline line of Edgar Ochieng, George Owino, John Njoroge and Anthony Kimani.
It is in midfield and attack that Kenya can boast of obvious strengths.
Parma’s Macdonald Mariga was outstanding against Guinea.
Austin Makacha should retain his holding role with Robert Mambo playing just ahead of him while Titus Mulama gets a chance to redeem himself on the left side after a poor showing last weekend.
Auxerre forward Dennis Oliech has been superb this campaign so far. A brace against the highly rated Guinea makes him the real danger man in the Kenyan attack with Patrick Oboya and Allan Wanga the supporting cast. Mambo and Kimanzi called for another massive turn out. Tickets were sold out by Friday morning translating to another intimidating atmosphere for the opposition.
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE NEWS AND INFO
Kimanzi keeps faith with winning squad
No comments:
Post a Comment