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The Nairobian

Revenge or re-union? CECAFA: Kenya and Rwanda renew rivalry in Cecafa opener at Bukhungu

Football

By Rodgers Eshitemi | Dec 03, 2017

HARAMBEE STARS vs MAURITIUS WORLD CUP QUALIFIER Kenya Harambee Stars fans cheers against Mauritius battle for ball possession during their World Cup qualifier at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday 11/10/15. They draw 0-0. PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Former Harambee Stars coach Hey plans to unleash Amavubi (Wasps) on Kenyans, who seek positive start.

Kenyans will be hoping for nothing short of a positive start when national football team Harambee Stars renew their rivalry with the Amavubi of Rwanda in today’s (2pm) opening Group A match of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega.

The encounter, which promises to be a crunch tie will be followed by a late kick off match (4pm) between Kilimanjaro Stars of Tanzania and guest team Libya, at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.

Apart from the new-found rivalry, there is a lot at stake for the two teams. Although there is a silent revenge-talk on the streets, both sides are insisting on building teams for the future as Kenya looks to redeem its image after being stripped of the rights to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan).

The Amavubi avenged their 2013 quarterfinal 1-0 defeat to Kenya two years ago when they edged Harambee Stars 5-3 on post-match penalties at the same stage in Ethiopia before losing to the hosts in the final. Kenya had also suffered another heartbreak in 1999 when Rwanda’s second string side beat Harambee Stars 3-1 to lift the regional title.

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But today’s match comes at a time when the two teams have different targets in the tournament with both coaches Paul Put (Kenya) and Antoine Hey (Rwanda) making their debut in Africa’s oldest competition.

While German-born Hey will be aiming to prove a point against Kenya, a team he coached briefly in 2009, as he prepare his youthful side for next year’s Chan in Morocco, his opposite number, who has been given a target of reclaiming the title they last won in 2013, will be out to gauge his players on his first assignment as Stars coach.

And with both coaches braced for a difficult match, Put is trying hard to relieve pressure on the hosts.

“Of course Rwanda is a strong team with quality players.

“They have qualified for Chan, so I expect them to come with their best local-based players. But I believe we are well prepared and the matches will give us an opportunity to test the level of our players,” said Hey.

“We are trying to get a balanced team on the pitch and see how far we can go. Although my focus is on 2018 AFCON, we will try to give our best and make Kenyans happy.”

But for Hey, this is a great opportunity for Amavubi to bounce back from their 2015 final defeat in Addis Ababa.

“We need to put the past behind us and focus on the future.

We’re looking forward to doing better than we did in the last campaign,” Hey was quoted by the New Times of Rwanda.