Harambee Stars two matches away from retaining regional title

Coach Kimanzi back in control, eyes Cecafa final slot  [photo Jonah Onyango]

Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi will be making a return to the touchline today at 1:30pm in Kampala, Uganda, when the national team tackles Eritrea in the first semifinal of the 2019 Cecafa Senior Challenge, after serving a two-match suspension.

Kimanzi was handed the ban by the tournament’s organising committee for allegedly unsporting behaviour prior to the defending champions’ 1-0 win over Kilimanjaro Stars of Tanzania on day one.

Despite Kimanzi’s absence in the dugout, Stars, under the tutelage of his assistant Zedekiah Zico Otieno, managed to overcome Sudan (2-1) and Zanzibar Heroes (1-0) to finish top of Group B with nine points.

The lunchtime kickoff will be followed by a 4pm encounter between record champions Uganda and Tanzania.

But even as the Dutch-trained tactician appeared to play down his emotions after conducting yesterday’s training ahead of the Eritrea showdown at Lugogo Stadium, he has set his sights to retaining the regional title.

 “There is nothing to be excited when you are in such a tournament. What is important is that the players will be happier to be in the semifinals more than me to be back,” said Kimanzi.

“Of course every team in the semifinals wants to get to the next 90 minutes. It will be a very tough match because both teams are there by merit. Eritrea will give their best and we will also give our best. But I think the team that is luckier in the tournament will be the winner tomorrow (today).”

And with the team being just two steps away from defending the trophy they won in Machakos in 2017, Kimanzi has challenged the local-based players to prove themselves in the tournament ahead of next year’s 2021 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.

“It is important when you have a local tournament and you have players that you have been thinking about knowing you have a bigger mission trying to see if you can create some competitiveness when it comes to the AFCON qualifiers in some positions.”

“So, I’m happy that at least those players are showing something,” he said.

“Sometimes, we have to be mindful of the opponents, but I think we can’t say we are disappointed. I would like to see those players in the semifinals and maybe to the finals. Then what happens if they have to join the other team in the AFCON qualifiers.”

Kimanzi added: “So far, they have been impressive and out of 10, I can give them a six which means there is a room for development.

“The mentality is good as well as the technical and tactical aspects attesting that they are working. But the other one (AFCON) is a really men’s stage and it is how you sometimes portray yourself there.”

However, the former Mathare United trainer has been greatly surprised by the impressive performance of 35-year old goalkeeper Samuel Odhiambo in his first national team tournament.

Odhiambo, who was called up as Brian Bwire’s replacement, has started all the last three group matches ahead of the preferred Ulinzi Stars custodian Timothy Odhiambo.

“To be honest, we just had Samuel as part of our depth and I didn’t expect him to be in goal in this tournament. Timothy deputised Ian (Otieno) in the last two AFCON games against Egypt and Togo, I thought it would have been fair if we see him, unfortunately our lives is different.