By GILBERT WANDERA
Kenya takes on Namibia this evening in their second match of the World Cup qualifiers, but a poor away record is likely to follow the Harambee Stars.
The last time Stars won away in either the Africa Cup of Nations or World Cup qualifiers was in 2003 when the team beat Cape Verde 1-0 in a campaign, which saw them make it to the Africa’s biggest competition in Tunisia in 2004.
Ironically, it was the last time Stars qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations with all the subsequent campaigns ending in a disaster.
The 2014 campaign has already started on a low note following last weekend’s barren drawn against Malawi at home and the pressure is on Stars to win away in a bid to get back their confidence in a long drawn out qualifiers which will end mid next year.
Stars find themselves in a tight corner and coach Francis Kimanzi summed up the team’s predicament a few hours before departure.
“It was disappointing not to win against Malawi because when you play at home, it is always expected that you will collect the maximum points on offer. It does not make our cause easier, but we are determined to turn around the situation against Namibia,” Kimanzai said.
“We have set our target very high and it includes coming back home with all three points or at worst a draw. We hope we can dampen the spirits of Namibians just like the Malawians did against us last weekend,” he said.
But it does not get better for Kimanzi, who has been under heavy criticism for his fielding in the last game. The last time the two sides met in Windhoek four years ago, the home side claimed a 1-0 win something that may give them extra motivation going into this fixture.
Despite a brilliant performance against Malawi last weekend, Tusker goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch is likely to pave way for Arnold Origi, who is returning to the team after a short period of self imposed exile.
Origi has the experience of playing in such big matches and his presence will go along way to calm the Kenyan defence.
It remains to be seen whether Kimanzi will shuffle his midfield which was a big let down last weekend, but he must find a more fluid combination here.
