Harambee Stars coach faces Burundi test

By Gilbert Wandera

KENYA: Harambee Stars assistant coach James Nandwa will be a man under the spotlight once again when the team plays Burundi in a first leg preliminary round of the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier away today.

Nandwa has been somewhat of a hero since taking Stars to the final of the regional tournament held in Kampala, Uganda, recently.

The former Tusker and Rangers coach never had a chance with Stars going to Uganda considering that some of the players he had were playing their first international match.

But with a squad that is considered the country’s third best, the team confounded critics by reaching the final becoming the first Kenyan side to do so in three years.

With Kenya having failed to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa, making it to the Chan finals next year?remains the only option for Kenya to feature in an international tournament and therefore getting positive results today in Bujumbura remain a priority.

The return match will be played in Nairobi on January 5. The Stars will need to do enough today to make the reverse fixture a mere formality.

But the Kenyan coach has  warned that local fans should not expect a miracle today because he has  been with the team for two days.

“This team was selected by Henri Michel. I have just added five players from the squad which was in Uganda. We  need time to gell.

“Our target is to get all three points or at worst a draw. Our opponents are very good considering their performance in Uganda and it is one side we cannot underrate at this point,” said Nandwa before departure for Bujumbura.

Historically, Burundi and Kenya have somehow avoided each other. In fact, this is the first time Kenya will play Burundi in their backyard at the senior level.

The two have met five times, three times in the regional tournament and twice in friendly matches. Burundi won twice and drew the other, while Kenya has won twice.

In 2000, the two met for the first time in an international friendly won by Kenya 1-0 in Nairobi. Four days later, Burundi won 3-2 in another friendly match.

Two years later, they drew 1-1 in the regional tournament match in Tanzania. When the regional tournament was held in Rwanda in 2007, Burundi beat Kenya 1-0 in the preliminary stage.

Two years later, Kenya won 1-0 at the preliminary match of the regional tournament.

Today, Burundi are better ranked than Kenya in the latest Fifa ranking at 128th compared to Kenya’s 130th.

The Kenyan squad:? Goalkeepers: Duncan Ochieng’ (Sofapaka), Boniface Oluoch (Tusker); Defenders: Abdallah Juma, George Owino, James Situma & Eugine Asike (Sofapaka), Edwin Wafula (Leopards), David Cheche Ochieng (Tusker), Chris Wekesa (Gor);
Midfielders: Anthony Teddy Akumu (Gor), Osborne Monday (Sofapaka), Francis Kahata (Thika United), Charles Okwemba (Leopards), Clifton Miheso (Thika), Andrew Tololwa (Mathare); Strikers: Kiongera Mungai (KCB), Wesley Kemboi  Stima), Edwin Lavatsa (Gor), Moses Arita (Thika United).