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KENYA
NIGERIA
It is one of the goals that fans crave to
see their player score and it comes once in a blue-moon. I thought it was a Brazilian born player who has
changed his citizenship to Kenyan.
After setting-up the goals for brace hero Clifton Miheso, it was the Thika United winger’s turn to reward his skipper, and like a complete player with a lot of composure at the edge of the box, Paul Kiongera Mungai controlled the ball, rounded-off his marker and executed a thunderous shot to the top-right corner of the net, to make it 3-1 for the Kenya Development side against Botswana.
Kiongera's goal made the Prime Minister Raila Odinga rise-up and salute him.
The lads made one defensive error and they were punished severely by an early goal from Tebogo Sembowa but they never gave up. That’s a mosquito slap not a bite, so to say. In the first half, we were some how misplaced in terms of positioning..more so in the attack.
I guess during the break, Coach James Nandwa reminded them about the importance of donning the national team colours and like a wounded lion, the development side came more rejuvenated..But I don’t think if they deserve that name.. for me I will call them Harambee Stars, they were goal-hungry and played their hearts out like real ambassadors. Although they had few a training sessions, they gave Botswana a run for their money.
Set-piece experts
However, credit goes to Enock Abiero Agwanda who replaced Joseph Kuria just before the break after the latter picked-up an injury.
The burly striker kept the Zebras defense on toes and it was his set-pieces skills that killed the game.
Two goals from throw-ins, that is history in Kenyan football and it is recommendable; it shows how set-piece experts are instrumental in any winning team. I did not mean that Charles Handas (Coast United), Henry Motego and Vincent Kwarula (both Kenya Breweries FC now Tusker FC) were not good.
Oooh…the senior team or Harambee moonless.. I meant the Francis Kimanzi and friends team, who is the set-piece wizard? Be it free-kicks, throw-ins or corner-kicks..My instincts tell me that could we have had a penalty in our past few international matches the end results would have been a disaster; definitely a conversion. AC Parma midfielder MC Donald Mariga is the only player who has been trying with his classy free-kicks. At least they were promising but since he was injured…….
Was it an off the hook theme, I guess No!! Lest I acknowledge the silent hero in today’s victory Francis Kahata this article will be stale even before it is published. Ironically, it was the opposite of his name (in Kiswahili meaning a miss), his glued feet and fancy, accurate passes was what made the Koderobara High School alumnus and Sakata Ball product-Agwanda race on the left wing like a tuk tuk..aah reminding me of the late Reinhardt Fabisch boy Rashid Suleiman. So, why did Sam Nyamweya make hefty demands leading to the cancellation of Sakata Ball 3? That's a food of thought.
Give Ceaser what belongs to him
Now the ball is in the court of FKF (Fanya Kazi Fyongo), this is a team that must be maintained at whatever cost, for sure we have talent that need to be harnessed. Put your greed in your own pockets and let action do the talking. No more politicking and scandalous deals, Kenyans love football more than you guys think..I will better sleep hungry than abscond the national team match. You should now give Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar (fans) and …. the boys have proved critics wrong.
At one point, there was light at the end of the tunnel after the boys made us proud in West Africa against Senegal and Guinea Bissau in January, we thought that they will be elevated to the national team and feature in the qualifiers but they ended-up sitting with Ingwelets and K'ogalo Divas in the terraces. Shame on you Kimanzi!!!
Let the scouting for the national team be done from the grassroots for the sake of building a formidable team. In the early 80’s and late 90’s Western Kenya was the hub of Kenyan football but nowadays it has been totally sidelined. Take your time and grace the lower division league matches in those areas you will be amazed with the type of talent those teams possess.
We are rebuilding a national team, so youth structures must be put in place to feed it with talented and quality players.
I was running late but don’t take it the other way…that I can't run and think at the same time. Last but not least, I hope this match will see Kenya rise in FIFA rankings.
Bravo the Kamusinga High School boy aka Mungaa and your troops, it was a job well done and you guys indeed restored the faith of your beloved fans. I can't afford to miss your next international match. From now henceforth this is our national team, no more recycling of allies.
