Clubs have a duty to uplift Harambee Stars
Editorial
By
The Standard
| Mar 30, 2016
NAIROBI: In his book, The Art of War, the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu asserts that: "If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."
This is rings quite true considering Harambee Stars' countless losses. For if the football stakeholders knew themselves or the game itself, Kenya would not be perennial loser it has become.
And after the national football team's back-to-back defeats to minnows Guinea Bissau in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Kenya finds itself in a quagmire.
The defeat on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium sparked ugly scenes as long-suffering fans vented their anger, albeit in unforgivable and barbaric manner. No loss whatsoever can justify such acts of hooliganism. It only demonstrates how bereft of ideas football stakeholders are.
Yet for such a beautiful game, it is reason and imagination and diligence to the demands of the sport that should inform the search for a way forward. For a long time now, Kenya's dismal performance in football has been blamed on the governing body, Football Kenya Federation (FKF). That FKF recently elected into office a new set of leaders, but still this could not prevent Kenya from losing, reinforces the fact that our game has been in decline.
Therefore, no change of guard will guarantee instant results. It means FKF may actually not be the only problem. There are other actors too, such as clubs which act as the production line for players.
In the aftermath of Kenya's defeat, questions have been raised on the role of football clubs?
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We all hold the view that football is a business. And if that is the case, what have clubs done to scout, nurture and sell these players abroad for profit? The world football governing body, Fifa, has a reward system where clubs unearthing talent benefit from training compensation through the solidarity mechanism. Why shouldn't clubs which feed the national team players scout and nurture players at a tender age?Unless that is done, Harambee Stars will always be dimmed.