Stars beat Ethiopia

By Gilbert Wandera

Sofapaka striker Allan Wanga netted two goals as the national team Harambee Stars hammered Ethiopia 3-0 in a friendly match on Wednesday night in Addis Ababa.

Wanga’s first goal came in the 13th minute when he connected with a Victor Ali cross from the left flank.

He then added another in the 55th minute from a rebound off a James Situma free-kick.

Levy Muaka scored his first international goal for Stars netting in the 70th minute after being put through by John Baraza, who himself has remained goalless on the international scene in the last two matches.

Stars arrived back home in the wee hours of yesterday morning. Last week Stars drew 1-1 with Taifa Stars away.

The win must have given Stars coach Twahir Muhiddin some confidence given that there have been complaints about the way he was appointed. But Muhiddin yesterday sought to downplay the controversy insisting he was focused on the task ahead.

He defended his appointment saying he was entitled to the position, given that he was an assistant to former coach German Antoine Hey.

"Having worked with Hey, it was just automatic that I take over when he left. This position is not reserved for anyone, but any Kenyan who is qualified and I am," he said.

He further added that he was focused on the up-coming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in three weeks time and will not allow the sideshows to distract him. Muhiddin praised Stars for an exemplary show against Ethiopia.

"They were fantastic and it gives me the kind of headache every coach wants. No one is guaranteed a place in the team and they understand that they have to fight for a place in the starting eleven," Muhiddin said.

It was the first competitive match for new Ethiopian coach, Ifem Onuora, who was appointed in July.

The Briton, who is of Nigerian descent, signed a two-year deal where he will be paid a monthly salary of $13,000 (about Sh1.2million) together with free telephone, housing and a house. He is also guaranteed two-free air tickets twice a year to travel to his country.

Internet sources say the coach’s salary and other expenses are covered by a company associated with Ethiopian tycoon, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Alamodin.

It is the first time that the Ethiopian national team is hiring a foreign coach with such a huge amount of money.

In the past, the federation hired far less expensive foreign coaches who never helped them improve their football standards, and the team has never made it to the Africa Cup of Nations finals.