Trailing 0-3 with 8 minutes left on the ticker at the September 28 Stadium in Conakry, Guinea, sensational striker Dennis Oliech proved to be the menace we all know him to be when he struck a double as Kenya eventually went down 2-3 to the hosts.
Ismael Bangoura kept up his prolific goal scoring record for Guinea with a first-half goal set up by Fode Mansare.
Two more goals from defender Mamadou Bah and Kamil Zayatte after the hour mark increased Guinea’s lead but Kenya fought back with two goals from French-based striker Dennis Oliech in the last eight minutes.
Oliech first scored at the near post from a Kevin Ochieng cross, silencing the home team who had begun showboating, assured of the three points and qualification to the final round of qualifying. If his first goal was classy, the second was sheer brilliance. Oliech picked up a loose ball deep in the Guinea half, skipped past five players before blasting the ball past a stranded Naby Yattara in the Guinea goal.
The win enabled Guinea top Group Two with 11 points and Kenya, who were on top going into the match, finished second but well within the points bracket to seal passage to the next round as one of the best second-placed eight teams.
Harambee Stars looked vulnerable from set pieces and attacks from the flanks but overall this was one of their best performances away from home in many years. Maybe more high profile matches away from home will give them that extra edge in away fixtures. The KFF should also retain the technical bench and keep the team together.Just a thought.
The draw for the final round of qualifying takes place on 22nd October in Zurich. The 2010 World Cup dream remains alive for the Stars.
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2 comments:
They were gallant for sure but very soon, they will be on a real International stage where "gallant" is not enough. I think they need to seal a number of loopholes namely:
- Pedestrian approach by the team (especially fatal when the defence does that). More specifically, the laid-back attitude of the two defenders allowed the seemingly innocuous Guinean midfielder to "walk" into the Harambee Stars box thus leading to the first goal.
- Lack of concentration at times which seasoned teams of the calibre of Côte d'Ivoire and Egypt can easily maximise on.
- Diet: It cannot be denied that Titus Mulama is/was one of the best mid-fielders Kenya has ever had, John Njoroge, one of the best left-backs and Austin Makacha and Osbourne Monday some of the more impressive midfielders. I only leave it to your imagination what the combination of skill + stamina can do. The team Nutritionists should add more proteins into their diets to build up those quadriceps. Otherwise they risk being physically bullied when they come against the North and West African Teams.
- Psychological loopholes - Sometimes it seems like the Harambee Stars players are overawed by the presence of the big names they encounter out there in the field; the reason being that perhaps most of the boys come from very humble backgrounds. It is our role as fans to make them feel like real celebs in order to boost their confidence.
- Support from the government, fans and the football association. I believe Kenya has the resilience to make it to the highest level of any domain be it Athletics, Rugby, Football, Politics (America:)!)but this is an ominous task without the kind of support other teams are receiving. Closer home, Football stadiums in Tanzania are usually full to capacity even during league games!
Go! Go! Stars!
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