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| 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 95th 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.
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