Kenya beat Botswana

By Gilbert Wandera

Coach James Nandwa took a gamble which paid off handsomely as Kenya whipped Botswana 3-1 in an international friendly match.

Nandwa, who was former coach Francis Kimanzi’s assistant four years ago, put together mostly unknown players and they still brought positive results against a well drilled opposition.

There were many positives from the results, one of them being that finally the country’s strikers can actually score goals.

Prior to Thursday’s three-goal win, the team had not scored in 270 minutes.

Another positive that can be drawn from the match is the emergence of rookies like Sony Sugar’s forward Enock Agwanda.

Agwanda was plucked from the national Under-20 side after Gor Mahia declined to release Rama Salim and he had a hand in all three goals on Thursday.

Nandwa was a delighted man that his experiment had worked and insists that  there is need to take risks as this is the only way to grow.

“We did not have the players we wanted. The time was short to put together a credible line-up, but we still managed to succeed. We must be willing to take risks with our players because this way we will discover those who can bring glory to the country,” he said.

On Thursday, Botswana were the first to score in the 18th minute through Tebogo Sembowa. But Eugine Asike will take the blame for allowing Pontsho through to feed the lurking Sembowa, who easily struck home off the base of the upright.

Kenya energised

The Kenyans were more energised in the second half and it was Sony forward Enock Agwanda, who destroyed the visitors with his dangerous throw-ins.

He set up Clifford Miheso in the 48th minute to score Kenya’s equaliser. Miheso added a second five minutes later before Paul Mungai completed the rout in the 68th minute. 

The visitors looked the better side as the match started with the Kenyan team struggling to settle down. Lemponye Trirelesto failed to tap home a corner kick in the 7th minute after David Owino.

But as the match ticked past the quarter hour mark, Edwin Olarile shot towards Kenya’s defence and Asike failed to clear the danger instead bringing down Phenyo Mongala but the referee waved play on after he somehow managed to pass the ball to Pontsho Moloi who set up Tobogo Sembowa for the first goal of the match.

Bostwana finished the first half on a high with Phenyo Mongala’s free kick nearly beating Lucas Indeche in the Kenyan goal.

The Kenyans took over dominance of the match as soon as the second half started and a minute into the half, Francis Kahata made a good run in the left flank, before releasing the ball to Cliffton Miheso, who headed it wide.