STORY BY CHARLES NYENDE/NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya captain, Robert Mambo is calling on fans to once again turn out in large numbers to support Harambee Stars to victory in their World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations, Group Two qualifier against Zimbabwe at Nyayo Stadium Saturday.
“We are urging fans to come as they did last Saturday and boost us. They gave us morale to play. We had the power to win,” Mambo said Thursday after the regulatory team training session at the match venue.
Last Saturday, Nyayo Stadium was filled beyond its official 35,000 carrying capacity by a noisy, partisan crowd, presenting an intimidating atmosphere for the highly-rated Guineans, who went on to lose 0-2.
Harambee Stars coach, Francis Kimanzi echoed his captain’s sentiments, saying a fully-filled terrace made a lot of difference.
“When we have a good turn out from fans who come and cheer us on, it really disorients the opponents. When the team plays well, the fans encourage them. That is home advantage and we welcome it,” Kimanzi said.
A capacity crowd is once again expected at Nyayo Saturday.
Tickets, priced at Sh300, for centre stand, and Sh100 for terraces, were availed Thursday at eight outlets within Nairobi of G4S, a security firm.
Gerald Chege, an executive member of the Harambee Stars management committee, said tickets will stop being sold Friday afternoon in compliance with a Fifa security requirement that does not allow for tickets to be sold on match day.
Organisers have said 27,500 tickets were printed for the match to avoid chaotic scenes of overcrowding witnessed during the game against Guinea that forced Fifa to threaten calling of the Zimbabwe tie.
A match security official, Khalif Shabell, was subsequently appointed and promised an elaborate security arrangement will be set up to ensure adequate crowd control.
Mambo expressed confidence in Kenya maintaining their momentum as they seek to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.
“The game will be very tough, but we have to keep our composure, our concentration,” the Kenya captain said.
Recovery
Mambo, however, predicted an explosive encounter: “Zimbabwe play good football. They are targeting to win and they are coming with their mind set on victory. We need the points as much as they need them.”
The experienced Sundsvall midfielder, who trained with the team Thursday, seemed to be recovering well from a bout of flu that kept him out of practice for three days.
Team doctor, Wycliff Makanga gave the player a clean bill of health.
Also given a thumbs up by Makanga is Dennis Oliech, who has struggled to fully recover from a thigh knock he suffered from two weeks ago.
Oliech trained with a thigh support and showed little effect from the muscle injury.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS AND INFO:
Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi at Thursday’s training session at Nyayo National Stadium. Picture by Robert Gicheru/THE STANDARD
Netherlands trained Kimanzi brings attacking flair to Stars
Kimanzi thinks Zims pose greater threat
Zims lock out press
No comments:
Post a Comment