STARS DIMMED: Williamson blames defenders as hosts Morocco beat Kenya in friendly

Harambee Stars head coach Bobby williamson during the team's training session at Kasarani Stadium on 07.10.2014 ahead of their friendly match against Morrocco, in Marrakech.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO.

New Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson is yet to win a match after Monday's 3-0 loss to Morocco in an international friendly match in Marrakech.

Williamson, who took over the team two months ago, was in-charge of only his second match since replacing Adel Amrouche.

His first match was a 1-0 loss to Egypt in another international build-up match played last month in Aswan City.

However, the huge loss continues the team's bad run in the last six matches which included being eliminated from the on-going Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Before losing to Egypt, Stars had gone down to Lesotho in the pre-qualifier matches of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Against Morocco, Harambee Stars held onto the match for more than 75 minutes before conceding three quick goals in a move that exposed their defensive weaknesses.

Earlier, the Kenyan team held well at the back as Badou Ezzaki's was unable to break down Kenya.

 

WELL TAKEN STRIKE

El Mehdi Karnass opened the scores with a well taken strike that beat Arnold Origi in goal. In going for goal, Karnass looked to have been given too much space by the Kenyan defenders, leaving Origi exposed between the posts. 

Seven minutes later, Tusker defender Aboud Omar caused an infringement in the box and the hosts were awarded a penalty which Mbark Boussoufa converted making it goal number six for his country.

 

DECENT RESULT

But before the celebrations were over, Mouhcine Iajour added a third goal for the hosts in the 80th minute ensuring a clean sheet for his side in the second match in a row after beating Central African Republic 4-0 in a previous home fixture.

Speaking after the match, Harambee Stars coach Williamson blamed his defenders for 'going to sleep' in the last quarter of this fixture.

"We were poor in defence especially in the second half and we lost concentration after conceding the first goal. You cannot defend like that in a game of football in this era and expect to get a decent result," said Williamson.

"We gave away a cheap penalty and that was game over. Then they grabbed a third from a swift counter attack when we were also trying to score on the other end. It is a very difficult result to take home but we are in a learning process and Kenyans should be patient. We are trying out several players and soon we will come up with a winning outfit," Williamson added.

Harambee Stars are expected home this afternoon with the federation planning more build-up matches for the squad which is rebuilding in readiness for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. [email protected]