Stars captain Victor Wanyama sees red, Stars draw

Harambee Stars striker Jocob Keli (9) vies for the ball with Issa Hazimana of Burundi during their international friendly match at the Nyayo National Stadium yesterday. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Ten-man Harambee Stars were held to a barren draw by the Swallows of Burundi in an international friendly at the Nyayo National Stadium, yesterday.
Stars captain Victor Wanyama got his marching orders just 13 minutes after his introduction in the second half, for pretesting against the centre referee Ssali Mashood's decision to award the visitors a free-kick.
Both teams started the game cautiously, with Burundi defender Stephane Rugonumagabo clearing James Situma's 17th minute dangerous cross in the area.
Burundi could have taken the lead in the 27th minute, but Amisi Tambwe lashed the ball into the side netting, although there was a marginal touch from goalkeeper Wilson Oburu of Bandari.
With less than eight minutes to the break, Geoffrey Kataka unleashed a powerful shot but Jacob Keli was ruled offside from the rebound.

On resumption, the overseas-based players led by Wanyama, Mcdonald Mariga, Allan Wanga, Peter Opiyo and Francis Kahata replaced Stephen Ocholla, Paul Kiongera, Brian Osumba, Keli and Geoffrey Kataka respectively in a match guided by Adel Amrouche’s deputies James Nandwa and Kennedy Odhiambo. Amrouche was serving a two-match ban after he was shown the red card against Comoros.

Just 27 minutes after Wanyama’s red-card, Stars could have broken the deadlock in the 72nd minute, but Jockins Atudo’s header from Kahata’s corner-kick was saved by Burundi keeper Innocent Mboni before Mariga missed a precious scoring opportunity in the area.
The friendly was part of Kenya’s preparations for this Sunday’s 2015 Africa Cup away qualifier tie against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars will have to do without the services of first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi after Norwegian top-tier side Lillestrøm SK declined to release him for the Maseru clash.

To vent his emotions, the 30-year-old custodian took to Facebook to expresses his disappointment, accusing the continental football body for arranging fixtures outside the Fifa calendar.

“Caf should seriously think on how they plan and set up their fixtures. It’s difficult to be released for games outside the dates set by Fifa for international matches. Really disappointed to be missing this weekend’s ACN qualifier,” read a post on Origi’s Facebook account.

In his absence, the burden of manning the goal will either fall on Bandari shot-stopper Wilson Oburu or Gor Mahia captain Jerim Onyango.

Elsewhere, Lesotho succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Botswana in another pre-2015 Africa Cup qualifier warm-up match in Gaborone on Monday.

Both goals were scored in the second half by debutantes Thato Ogopotse and Onkabetse Makgantai. Ogopotse broke the deadlock in the 66th minute before Makgantai’s last-gasp strike secured a fourth win for Zebras new coach Peter Butler.