Skip to main content

MAKING SENSE OF HARAMBEE STARS' DRAW WITH EGYPT

 You have already read the title, you know what this is about. Let's go straight into it. Harambee Stars crushed out of Afcon 2021. We all knew it was coming, but rather than admit it it, we only spoke about it in hushed tones, stretching whatever little hope there still was that a miracle would happen and Harambee stars would beat a star studded Egyptian side featuring a two time English Premier League top scorer, and somehow defy fate. It was never going to happen. We can now shout it from the roof tops. There is no shame in failure, at least we tried. We are not bottom of the group, we avoided defeat to a 7-time African football champions over two legs. Mohamed Salah, a two time EPL top scorer, couldn't put one in the net against us in 180 minutes of football. So we can be proud. But that a side, we were poor. Maybe not last night but over the whole period of the campaign. We lost  our first group game to Comoros and haven't looked like we could qualify.

Michael Olunga had a game to forget. He had a couple of really good chances but he failed to deliver, the weight of added responsibility as team captain probably weighing him down. But Salah didn't score either so we can excuse the "engineer". Overall, Harambee Stars played well, but a couple of bad decisions undid all the hard work. The first goal was from sloppy defending coupled with lack of concentration. Harambee stars gifted the Egyptians an easy one goal head-start and you can't afford to do that against such an astute opposition. We dominated thereafter, creating really good chances, with Egypt resigned to sitting deep and trying to hit us on the counter with their characteristic long balls. Kenya enjoyed a long period of domination with nothing to show for it.

It has to be said, Jacob Mulei did a good job. Kenya played well, and could even have got the much deserved victory had Johnstone Omurwa not lost his head and got himself hauled off. I think Michael Olunga should have been substituted off. He had an off day. Marcelo Ouma, ever reliable on the flanks, put in a really good shift and Joash Onyango was solid at the back. We have a good team. The fact that most of Harambee stars players play in Africa, is proving to be a good thing. If you are going to be a successful side in African football you must have majority of your players plying their trade in the continent.

But we failed to qualify, that's the bottom line. And this is bad. It is very bad. When CAF decided to expand the tournament to 24 teams in 2018 there was hope that it would give opportunity to fringe teams like ours a chance to qualify and indeed two years ago Kenya did just that. This time it has eluded us and we should hang our heads in shame. In the end, 24 team will be in Cameroon and unfortunately Harambee Stars will not be amongst them. Let this sink in for a moment: 24 slots out of 54 countries and we still cant make it, can a team be poorer!?

Kenya Starting 11 : Ian Otieno (Zesko United, Zambia, GK), Daniel Sakari (Kariabangi Sharks, Kenya), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Joash Onyango (Simba, Tz), Anthony Akumu (Kazier Chiefs, SA) Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito, Kenya), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka, Kenya), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari, Kenya), Masoud Juma (El Jadidi, Moroco), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail, Qatar) (c).

Subs : James Saruni, Nahashon Alembi, Harun Mwale, Duncan Otieno, Duke Abuya, Cliff Nyakeya, Kelvin Kimani, James Mazembe, Elvis Rupia, Kelvin Simiyu.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

20 LINGALA WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW THEIR MEANINGS

Over the last couple of years the Lingala language has gained and continues to gain unprecedented popularity in Kenya . Many Kenyans now can speak fluent Lingala. Some even sing in the langauge! I'm talking about Papa Fololo, Igwe Prezda Bandasson, Awilo Mike of Jamnazi Africa, Fofona Bangali and myself, just to name but a few. Part of the reason for this popularity is: Lingala is easy to learn (For Lingala-Swahili similarities, click here ). I mean, it is ridiculously easy. So easy, in fact, it takes just a few months. Forget about the Lingala you hear in songs that's bedeviled with iterations of Lingalized French (Hahah, what does that even mean?). I'm talking about Lingala in its purest form here, the one not polluted with foreign languages. Well, before I bore you to death with detail, I'm happy to present you here with 20 popular lingala words and phrases I thought you could be interested in knowing their meaning. Let's get right into it, shall we? 1. Bolingo
86 comments
Read more

5 POPULAR LINGALA PHRASES EVERY RUMBA LOVER MUST KNOW

Lingala is probably the fastest growing indigenous African language largely due to Congolese music (Rumba, soukous, chatchto and the like). Some of the greatest composers and singers in Africa have sung in this language producing some renown hit songs that have dominated the African airwaves for decades while introducing some endearing phrases and catchphrases that never just never fade from our collective memory. Lingala is reputed as Africa's most romantic language and it has surely lived up to this reputation. Lingala phrases are a pure joy to listen to, especially when you understand them. Some of these phrases are priceless pieces of wisdom while some overflow with sardonic humor and wit. But one thing is for sure, these phrases are simply unforgettable, for one reason or another. Maybe it's because we tend to be fascinated with exotic languages and ideas. Or maybe, the Congolese people are just damn good at composing music. Either way, their singing, their music and mann
4 comments
Read more

TOP 5 LUO BENGA SONGS AND MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME

Luo benga is a crowded scene. It is a boiling pot teeming with hundreds of artistes, both dead and alive, young and old, males and females jostling for space in this very competitive music world.We have legends like the late George Ramogi, the late Owino Missiani (also known as DO Missiani), The late Okatch Biggy, the late Prince July, the late Prince Kassam, the late Omondi Tony, the late Kollela Maze, The late Kodiyo, to sample but a few. We also have an emerging crop of young talents like Dolla Kabarry, George Dume, Otieno Small, Kamaliza Majengo, Aluoch Jamaranda, Reggie Kabaselle  (son of the late Ochieng Kabaselleh ), Aluoch Jipanoran, Ogina KoKo, Omondi Longlilo, Jerry Jalamo Ka'John  and Osito Kalle to mention but a few. We cannot all agree who is the best and I am not going to impose my choices on you. But we can agree that from the long list of Benga artists in Luoland a few names stand out and a few songs stand out from the bunch like giraffe in heard of gazelles (well,
16 comments
Read more