By Robin Toskin

If Kenyans wanted an explanation of the magnitude of work needed to raise a competitive national football team, it was all there in the rubble of a side buried 2-0 by Zambia at Nyayo National Stadium as the Orange Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup got under way.

The expectant fans who thronged Nyayo Stadium on Saturday had been kept on the edge by a disjointed display that no one could make head or tail of.

And so when Zambia’s James Chamanga rose to head in the opener on 88 minutes the fans descended from the terraces, understandably in agony, before Felix Sunzu twisted the knife on their backs when he swept in the second, deep in stoppage time.

Zambian coach, Herve Renard, still had the humility to say the result looks good but that his charges did not play according to his game plan.

But if that was a poor display, which again was way above Harambee Stars’ approach in technical terms, the Kenyans must fasten their seatbelts for a rough ride in the Orange Cecafa Challenge Cup.

Not even the presence of Patrick Oboya, Francis Ouma and Kenyan Premier League’s joint-top scorer could ruffle a make shift Chipolopolo side.

Harambee Stars coach, Twahir Muhiddin, tried to brave his boys’ calamitous performance, groping in the dark to find an explanation in the fact Zambia are fresh from Cosafa tournament and that his players are coming off a gruelling KPL season.

But even then, his explanation would not mask the sorry state of a team Muhiddin thought would be wise to keep together as he seeks to build one for the future.

Without the influence of Denis Oliech’s pace and power, Muhiddin threw in Wanga and Ouma partnership but which flopped spectacularly in its attempt to prise open the Zambian defence.

In fact, fans’ patience ran out for Disportivo Tourizense striker who demanded the 21-yearold be hauled off the pitch.

Their wish was granted as he made way for Baraza but who too fell into the deep end of action. It was Wanga’s spirited performance although lacking in bite that kept the fans going. Muhiddin had tinkered with his line-up handing debuts to Sofapaka captain James Situma and Tusker’s Jerry Santo.

While Santo showed guile, Situma failed short in confidence time and again ceding possession in midfield. It took the introduction of Peter Opiyo, who jetted in less than 24 hours from Europe, help stabilise Stars midfield undone by the anonymity of Siad Most’s Oboya.

It was, however, to a temporary antidote as Zambia continued to stifle Kenya’s half-hearted forays.

The first warning came in the 71st minute when Edgar Ochieng cleared Chamanga’s effort off the line after a monumental error of judgement by goalkeeper Willis Ochieng. Baraza came close thereafter but curtailed by the flying body of captain Denis Banda. Zambia inched even closer as Edgar’s turn to throw his body on the line kept of Felix Sunzu’s shot.

But there was little the Kenyans could do after yet again when goalkeeper Ochieng failed to cut out Jimmy Chisenga’s searching cross which Chamanga obliged with a simple header.

It was wee bit a case of flogging a dead horse and Sunzu turned and rifled in the second after the backline which has become Kenya’s Achilles Heel, failed to clear their lines.