Titus Mulama in action

Harambee Stars’ midfielder Titus Mulama in action against Zimbabwe in Nairobi.

Photo/ANWAR SIDI & MOHAMMED AMIN

Kenya intensify training as Zimbabwe arrive for soccer match

NAIROBI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's national soccer team arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday night ahead of the World Cup/Africa Nations Cup qualifier against hosts, Harambee Stars on Saturday.

The visitors jetted in as their opponents, Harambee Stars intensified training hoping to turn the tables again on Saturday.

The team captain Robert Mambo and French-based striker Dennis Oliech Oliech resumed training with the team on Wednesday.

Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi said he will stick with the team that beat Guinea's Syli Stars 2-0 when they host Zimbabwe.

Speaking after training late Wednesday, Kimanzi said he was satisfied with the team's performance.

"This is a winning team and you all saw how they played on Saturday against Guinea, why should I make changes now? I can't say we were 100 percent perfect during the Guinea match, but I believe all departments were impressive," said Kimanzi.

"I don't rate my team's performance according to departments, all I can say is that we played well, but allowed our opponents to penetrate on two occasions which should not have happened. Our performance against Guinea was better than against Namibia a week before and I believe we are getting better everyday. Zimbabwe willbe in problems on Saturday," he said.

Kenya, thirsting for places in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

Kenya, thirsting for places in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and that year’s African Cup of Nations finals in Angola, are grouped together with Guinea, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The team is as follows: Goalkeepers — Noah Ayuko, Jacktone Ochieng.

Defenders — George Owino, Edgar Ochieng, John Njoroge, Joseph Shikokoti, Lloyd Wahome, Anthony Kimani.

Midfielders — Augustine Makacha, Osborne Monday, Levi Muaka, Kelvin Ochieng, Titus Mulama, Robert Mambo, Andrew Oyombe.

Strikers — Francis Ouma, Dennis Oliech, Allan Wanga.

Kenyan football gets a facelift from South Africa

The South African government is offering Kenya a football coach and other technical assistance, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on Saturday.

And to set the ball rolling, Sports Minister Hellen Sambili is on her way to South Africa where she will attend a summit in Durban which will strategize on how A frica can explore sport’s many benefits.

In a news dispatch from the Prime Minister’s Press Service (PMPS), Odinga said Sambili would subsequently visit Johannesburg to meet government officials and the National World Cup Committee to explore better cooperation, technical assistance and sponsorships.

He said Harambee players told him that they felt a new energy and commitment because they were no longer dogged and demoralized by the disputes and controversies that came close to ruining the national sport forever.

Reaffirming his commitment to sports Odinga, who played soccer in his younger days, said sports remained his priority as it had the capacity to be one of the engines of rapid economic growth and employment, given the people’s passion for it.

Kenya’s Harambee stars truimph over Zimbabwe

Kenya on top of their group in 2010 WC / CAN qualifiers

Thirsting for tickets to the 2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations finals, Kenya’s Harambee Stars beat Zimbabwe 2-0 on Saturday to top the group standings with six points.

Three key players missing from Kenya squad

MacDonald Mariga dropped out of next 2010 WC / CAN qualifiers

Italy-based midfielder MacDonald Mariga and goalkeeper Arnold Origi are among the players left out of the Kenyan World Cup squad for their match against Zimbabwe this weekend.

Kenya’s Harambee stars truimph over Zimbabwe

enya, drawn against Guinea, Zimbabwe and Namibia in Group Two of the qualifiers, are leading the standings with six points and five goals.

Inspired by the large turnout, which saw Kenya Football Federation officials lock ticket holders out of the fully-packed Nyayo National Stadium, Italian-based attacking midfielder MacDonald Mariga opened the score-line in the eighth minute.

The rest is history. It is worth noting that Kenyans, hitherto disappointed by the Stars’ poor show in recent international events, are now finding their way back to the stadium, thanks to a fairly good start in the World Cup campaigners.

With the qualifiers at the mid-point stage, it might be too early to heap praise or celebrate the Harambee Stars’ exploits, but beating bigwigs Guinea and Zimbabwe is a key accomplishment that has seen Kenya clear major hurdles.

But the real work begins this weekend when Zimbabwe hosts Kenya in the return match in Harare.

It is an open secret that Kenya’s away record is not the best and it goes without saying that in Harare, Zimbabwe will enjoy home ground advantage and prove a hard nut to crack.

A draw or victory in Harare will be a major boost to Kenya’s bid for the Nations Cup and 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but more so the Nations Cup finals in Angola.

Three key factors have contributed to Kenya’s good start in the campaign - moral boosting support from Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, a retired soccer player, players’ focus and the generous support/sponsorship by Kenya Premier League Limited (KPL).

A lot will also depend on how new coach Francis Kimanzi handles the team and his strategies for away matches.

Kimanzi holds a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) B International Coaching Licence and an International High Level Coaching Certificate from the Dutch Football Academy (KNVB).

A lot depends on Kimanzi and a lot depends on KPL and other stakeholders.

But for now the focus is on Kimanzi and Harambee Stars. Will they retain the momentum? The answer is yes. Panapress