Stars add pain to mourning Kenyans

By Gilbert Wandera

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is yet to make a decision on the fate of  coach Francis Kimanzi in the wake of a string of  poor results that added pain to Kenyan fans.

Harambee Stars lost 1-0 to Togo on Sunday in an Africa Cup of  Nations qualifier. It was their second loss in a row after they had gone down 1-0 to Namibia in a World Cup qualifier two weeks earlier.

Even as the country was bidding farewell to its gallant ministers the late Prof George Saitoti and Orwa Ojodeh and four police officers painfully, Harambee Stars failed to lift the spirits of the nation at a time in need.

The national football team is fast gaining the bad repute of Stars that cannot shine and a team that can never deliver beyond borders. The team simply played poorly, lacked cohesion, skills and looked rudderless against Sparrow Hawks -a side that played equally bad.

It is time the football administrators and the Sports ministry looked for solutions. What will Sports Minister Dr Paul Otuoma, assistant minister Kabando wa Kabando write on their scorecard for football?

And Federation chairman Sam Nyamweya says they will review the performance of the team before making a decision even though his vice-chairman Sammy Sholei has  called for an overhaul of the technical bench.

“We did everything we could for the team. We gave them all they had asked for but still failed to deliver. It is now up to us to review the performance and take the appropriate decision,” said Nyamweya.

Kimanzi has already come under heavy criticism over his fielding especially his insistence on using players like Kevin Kimani and Jamal Mohammed who are currently not playing regularly.

Kimani is yet to get a club since his contract with Mathare United ended at the beginning of the year while Mohammed last played for United two months ago.

Following the loss to Togo, Kenya will have to wait until 2015 to try and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Togo  qualified for the next round of the 2013 qualifiers on an away goal rule despite the fact that the had lost the first leg 2-1 in Nairobi three months ago.
The Togolese playing in front of a packed crowd got the all important goal in the  59^th  minute when Serge Gakpe’s blistering 30 yard beat  Arnold Origi  in goal all the way .