RONALDO’S NUMBERS ON THE RISE

Ronaldo celebrating his second goal against Sevilla in Cardiff Stadium on Tuesday during the Uefa Super Cup match. Ronaldo netted a brace to earn Madrid a 2-0 win and first trophy of the season.

Despite a disappointing World Cup campaign, the 29-years old Portuguese winger has not tired yet from the game after yet again stepping up to help his club win their first Uefa Super Cup on Tuesday. Ronaldo scored both goals in each half to help his side overcome Sevilla by 2-0 in a match played in Cardiff on Tuesday. The Los Blanco fielded a great team comprising of the new signings who added more flavor to the European champions.

The match may have seen the best from Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez but as usual, the normal suspect stole the show again. Cristiano Ronaldo converted Bale’s cross to the far post before netting his brace in the second half with a neat finish in the top corner of the net after being set up by Benzema. Following this, the winger is now closing down on the top European scorers.

70 European goals

The brace means Ronaldo has now scored 70 goals in the continental competition with 68 of these scored in champions league and two in Uefa Super Cup. This moves him to second position alongside Filippo Inzaghi, the former Juventus and Ac Milan striker. However, the Portuguese is still six goals shot of former club mate Raul who scored 76 goals for Real Madrid and Schalke. Ronaldo will also put a smile on his face after surpassing his great rival Lionel Messi who has so far scored 68 goals. The Madrid star has also scored 254 goals in 247 matches played for the club since his move to the club in 2009 from Manchester United.

With Inzaghi and Raul already out of the game, the race will go down the wire to the two players who seem unchallengeable in the modern game. Many matches are still underway for both players and its all about time before more records are broken by the duo.

WHO TO BLAME FOR HARAMBEE STARS FAILURES?

                        Fans at Nyayo Stadium watching intently as Harambee Stars played Lesotho on Sunday. The match which ended in a draw  saw Kenya's dream of participating in the 2015 AFCON shuttered.

There was this one moment when our national heroes were minutes away from registering one of their long-awaited performance in the continent but all went in vain. A number of opportunities knocked as the golden touch needed to send the whole congregation into frenzy of excitement dimmed once again and this time was against Lesotho. So who is to blame for these predicaments that have shuttered dreams of millions who were ready to see our national team participating in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations?

The Kenyan national team was eliminated from the race to qualifying to the 2015 AFCON scheduled from January after a barren draw with Lesotho on Sunday evening in Nyayo Stadium. The draw gave Lesotho a 1-0 aggregate advantage after defeating the Stars by a solitary goal during the first leg tie played back in Lesotho. The visitors will now participate in the tournament leaving the entire Kenyan community nursing wounds.

We are always accustomed to blaming players whenever our teams lose but at times that may not be the case. It is however clear that many chances came but the players misfired in those opportunities. Victor Wanyama,Peter Opiyo,David Cheche,MC Donald Mariga and Denis Oliech are some of the victims who had glorious chances coming their ways but could not find the net. Sometimes we may blame them but not entirely on the outcome. They did their best and showed their true patriotism by turning up and playing for the nation, we have to appreciate them since these things do happen even with great players like Lionel Messi  when he missed a penalty kick to send Chelsea to the finals of champions league some years back as well as his last minute chance against Belgium that was punched by Thibaut Courtois and his opportunity against the Germans in the World cup finals which would have won them the title instead of their rivals. So where did it really go wrong?

Shambolic Preparation

Indeed recent matches have shown a great improvement and dedication in our national team. First winning the 2013 CECAFA and registering other wins that saw the nation climbing the ladder in FIFA ranking released three weeks ago to 95^th position. If these were to judge then our stars would definitely be in the competition. Many people have voiced their reasons for this but my words will echo those uttered by the CECAFA secretary general Nicholas Musonye, ‘It is a disaster for Kenya to be out of top-flight international football until 2017. But their preparations for Lesotho were shambolic, a total joke and it was no wonder we are out.’

The then technical side which was led by their by the then suspended head coach Adel Amrouche received all the support from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) but still failed to deliver. This prompted the disbandment of the technical bench after the loss which flawed in preparing the Stars for the match. Considering the home advantage we had and players lined up, there was not going to be any excuse for failing to move past Lesotho who are not a much tough side as it may seem to be. Effective preparations and plans were needed for the mission as all the time was available but again that did not come out to be.

Amrouche’s ban

There is no doubt that the coach’s suspension may have contributed towards this ‘massacre’ although the impact may be less. Maybe his presence in the pitch would have made things to happen. Amrouche is a great coach but his conducts have been questionable. The former head coach was served with a 12 month CAF ban for an altercation with match officials in Kenya's game against Comoros and one wonders whether it was necessary for him to do that. Maybe his patience and discipline would  enable him evade the ban and continue his service to the nation. The technical bench did not only fail but Amrouche too failed as a coach.

With the bench now sent packing, it is time to form a new one with at least a local coach and fresh plans executed to prepare for our future matches since all is not lost.  

Who do you thinks should be blamed for our nation's failure to make it to the 2015 AFCON? Feel free to add your comments below.

IS MESSI’S CAREER SET FOR AN END?

 

What! No this may sound strange but on ground it does not appear far from possibility with now the thin line between Messi and football lying on the final verdict of the Spanish court judges. After experiencing a number of setbacks in his recent career, World’s four times player of the year Lionel Messi could just find himself hanging up his boots in the beautiful game at an early stage. This is due to the ongoing case on an alleged tax fraud by the Argentine captain. Messi was accused of using a number of shell companies set up in tax havens to shield royalties and other licensing income from Spanish income tax.

 Reports state that the tax havens, said to be located in Belize and Uruguay, were the ultimate destination for the funds which were allegedly funneled through an elaborate maze including the U.K. and Switzerland. The scheme reportedly allowed the pair to avoid paying nearly €4.165 million ($5.5 million U.S.) in tax.  It has also been stated that the prosecutor seemed to agree, that Messi’s father, Jorge, was responsible for the tax schemes a claim refuted by a Barcelona court stating that Messi could have known about the tax scheme. That was sufficient reason, in the court’s purview, to order Messi and his father to stand trial on charges this fall. Despite Jorge paying €5 million in taxes last year, per BBC News, the judge has found "sufficient evidence" to suggest both he and Messi Jr. should be investigated, reported by AS.

A Spanish court has decided to move forward with prosecuting Messi for the alleged tax evasion. The move comes despite a recommendation from the prosecutor that the charges be dismissed and despite Messi’s clear attempts to resolve his outstanding tax debts. The case could see Messi spending six years in prison if found guilty by the Spanish court.

Former Argentine player and coach Diego Maradona also found himself in the same tax fraud allegations some years back, after been accused by Italian authorities of  €39 million unpaid tax bill dating back to when the legend played for Napoli between 1984 and 1991. Maradona later won the case after the charges against him were dropped by the court thus setting him free.

With Messi ,this comes after the Barcelona playmaker had suffered a long –term injury later last year and failing to retain his Ballon d’ or title as well as ending last season trophy less. He also had an overwhelming campaign with Argentina in the World Cup, reaching the finals before losing it out to Germany. The tax allegation could be an added nightmare in his career if it fails to go his way.

THE STARS SET TO STAR IN LESOTHO

   Kenya national team Harambee stars posing for a photo in a past match.

The just concluded 2014 FIFA World Cup may have left you with some hangovers after maybe your team failed to meet your expectation or your favorite players misfiring in the tournament. This aside, it is now time we come back to our local platform as our national football team, Harambee Stars  prepare to battle it out with Lesotho  for  a spot in next year’s Africa Cup  of Nations to be held  in Morocco from 17^th  January to 8^th  February.

The national team departed to Lesotho today with high expectations of at least making it to the competition. The last time Kenya participated in the tournament was back in 2004 led by the current Football Kenya Federation (FKF)  Technical  Director Jacob Ghost Mulee as their coach, since then it has always been a dream for the national side as they fail to move past the qualifying stages.

Team News

Harambee stars will go into the match with good news after climbing the ladder of FIFA’s latest World ranking released today. The Stars have jumped 13 places up the table to 95^th position and a win against Lesotho will see our country move further up. However, the Stars’ camp is not short of bad news after several key players confirmed to be missing.  First choice keeper Arnold Origi and the country’s leading striker Dennis Oliech are among those to miss the clash after their clubs declined to release them citing the match does not fall on FIFA calendar.  Star striker Johanna Omollo who also scored in the previous round against Comoros is also set to miss the match.
Origi who plays for Lillestrom in Norwegian league expressed his disappointment on the Confederation of African Football for poor scheduling of its matches through his Facebook account ‘Confederation of African Football (Caf) should seriously think on how they plan and set-up their fixtures.’ ‘It's difficult to be released for games outside the dates set by FIFA for international matches. Really DISAPPOINTED to be missing this weekend’s AFCON qualifier.’ Oliech’s Ajaccio also refused to release the striker on the same grounds. The Stars’ will also be forced to play without head coach Adel Amrouche who is still serving his suspension after the ban against Comoros ruling him out for both legs.

Meanwhile, the Lesotho national team also shares the same fate with Kenya as most of their important players are set to miss the clash. Midfielders Ralekoti Mokhahlane and Motlalepula Mofolo as well as one of their top strikers Thapelo Tale are ruled out due to injuries picked from their friendly match against Botswana played on Monday. This will get well for the Harambee Stars as they look to capitalize on that to win the midfield battle.
Available players
Bandari goalkeeper Wilson Obungu has been called to replace Origi with Tusker’s Brian Osumba also included to in the list.
 Goalkeepers: Wilson Obungu, Jerim Onyango
 Defenders: James Situma, David Owino, Joackins Atudo, Dennis Odhiambo, Aboud Omar, Vincent Omumbo
Midfielders: Victor Wanyama, Francis Kahata, McDonald Mariga, Peter Opiyo, Stephen Ocholla, Brian Osumba
Forwards: Harrison Mwendwa, Paul Kiongera, Jacob Keli and Allan Wanga.

The match will be played at the Setsosto Stadium on Sunday starting 4pm Kenyan time with the return leg scheduled on August 2 in Afraha Stadium. The winner between the two after both legs will advance to group C which has Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon waiting.

All the best for the stars.