WELL DONE, BUT... Pleased with his first win, Harambee Stars coach calls for more friendlies

Coach Harambee Stars Stanley Okumbi instruct players during a match with Congo in a match at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday, June 5, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO]

Harambee Stars head coach Stanley Okumbi believes their two international friendly matches against Tanzania and Sudan helped in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Congo.

The dead-rubber match at Kasarani Stadium was Kenya’s second-last tie in the 2017 African Nations Cup campaign.

This was Okumbi’s first win after five attempts since he succeeded Bobby Williamson in February.
Kenya came into the Congo match against the backdrop of a 1-1 draw with both Tanzania and Sudan in international friendly matches.

And from Sunday’s display, the former Mathare United coach feels more high-profile friendly matches will be help the team and players boost their confidence.

“I think the two build-ups played a big role in the result. We came from a goal down in both friendlies against Tanzania and Sudan. That showed the players have a strong character and fighting spirit,” said Okumbi in Sunday’s post match press conference.

“It could have happened in the two leg match against Guinea Bissau, but I didn’t have enough time to train with the players. It was my first time as the national team coach. I think in future, we need to get as many friendlies as possible so that we can build that confidence in the players.”

With Mathare United attacking midfielder Eric Johanna having silenced his critics with a superb match winning goal, Okumbi urged fans to support all players whenever selected.

“When we field players, it is good we support them because all of them are Kenyans and they deserve a chance to play for the national team. Some fans were questioning my decision to field Johanna and they didn’t want him to play. If he could have followed what was happening on social media, his morale could have definitely been affected. We make right decisions as per players’ performance in the Kenyan Premier League,” said Okumbi.

Okumbi was also quick to deny reports that there was uneasiness in the camp ahead of the game. There were reports that goalkeeper trainer Razak Siwa had been dismissed.
“According to how we played, I don’t think there was any issue in the camp. The morale in the team was high and as far as I am concerned, there was no issue at all,” said Okumbi.

But for captain Victor Wanyama, it was the performance of Gor Mahia defender Eric Marcelo’ Ouma and Spanish-based midfielder Ismail Gonzalez that left him pleased.
“I think they (Ouma and Gonzalez) were really good," said Wanyama

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