Eritrea dare to dream

By GILBERT WANDERA

KENYA: Last year, when the Senior Challenge Cup was held in Kampala, some players from Eritrea sneaked out of camp and sought asylum in Uganda.

It is a situation that has always stalked Eritrean teams as they participate in different regional competitions.

Faced with tough economic conditions back home, Eritrean players and officials take advantage every time they travel out of their country to try and remain behind in search of better living standards.

However, this time it looks different as the team prepares to take part in this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, which starts in Nairobi tomorrow.

Team coach Omar Ahmed insists they are not in Nairobi to add to the number of asylum seekers, but are looking to reach at least the quarterfinals stage in a group that includes Sudan, champions Uganda, and Rwanda.

“Those problems of players sneaking out are now behind us. There is a sense of unity among the players and the top leadership with regard to what we want in this competition,” he said in an interview just hours after his team landed in Nairobi.

Eritrea is one of the few teams that have brought in foreign team-based players for the two-week competition, perhaps an indication of how serious they are about going further than the first round, from which they were eliminated last season.

Among the players who turn out for foreign teams on the squad are Setak Beyynic and Haven Birhane who play for Division Three sides in England, Hayie Gayton and Suraf Abraha, who play in Sudan as well as Yonathan Selemom who is in Saudi Arabia.

Ahmed said they have a young squad that is determined to have a good performance this year and look to a brighter future by building on their great form.

“Our squad is perhaps the youngest in this competition as the players range from 18-26 years. Apart from taking part in this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, we are looking at the future as well.

“The players have been in camp for about two months and are raring to do well in this year’s event. We are also looking at the future confident that what we have can give us the kind of performance we are hoping for in years to come,” he added.

Ahmed said they have great respect for their group opponents but will try and cause some upsets in their quest to qualify from the group.

“Sudan have a formidable squad while Uganda are favourites. Rwanda always does well in this competition and all the teams have pedigree; nevertheless we are still determined to get to the quarter-finals. We have prepared well and do not fear anyone,” he said.

Ahmed, who retired from playing football in 1999, has been the coach of Eritrea for the last five years, perhaps an indication of the stability the team is enjoying and is keen to maintain.     

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