Key talking points as H. Stars struggles continue.

Harambee Stars head coach Stanley Okumbi(center) during his  appointment as the team's head coach on February. (Photo/Goal.com)

Kenyan National Football team Harambee Stars failed yet again to pick a win under new manager Stanley Okumbi following a 1-1 draw with Tanzanian National Football team the Taifa Stars in a friendly match played at Moi Stadium Kasarani on Sunday 29 May.

The Taifa stars took the lead in the second period through Elias Mrugao heading past Boniface Oluoch who was caught off his line. However Kenya equalized six minutes later through captain Victor Wanyama converting from the spot after Ayub Timbe was luckily brought down in the box. Hopes of a comeback started emanating from the players, but as recent tradition dictates, the Stars could not break through as they lacked the golden touch in the opponents’ box. The draw now means Kenya has lost two and drawn one of their three matches under Okumbi since his appointed by Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa.

However, despite a new management both in the federation and coaching staff taking over football matters in the country, there are still many questions than answers football fans are asking themselves on the fate of our national team. So why does it get always wrong for the Stars?

‘Not yet Okumbi’

This is not the first time Okumbi’s name is brought on the limelight, especially when questioning his qualification to guide Harambee Stars. The current Stars manager was appointed by FKF president Nick Mwendwa back on February 20 to replace Bobby Williamson. Most football pundits were quick to question this move, but the noises slowly diminished and he was allowed to prove himself. Three matches now and Okumbi is yet to register his first win, so does he really deserve the position?

Of course it would be unfair to judge him at this point, having in mind that Kenya’s struggles has been existing for long even before his appointment. However, what Kenyans are seeing is far from the change they wanted, not only in terms of scores but how the team selection is made.

Okumbi has lost the confidence of fellow tacticians in the local scene and this prompt me to ask how one can lead a national team while having poor relation with most local coaches. The former Mathare coach was also blamed for fielding incompetent players from the FKF League in his first match in charge of the national team. At least the voices were heard at this time and Okumbi went for what people wanted.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa was quick to defend his man. According to the FKF boss, this is part of a long-term project to build a strong team for the future. Indeed this sounds promising for our football but should we hold our breath for more years to come?

Fans losing touch with the Stars!

Born and raised at an era when supporting the national football team Harambee Stars came with much pride and enthusiasm, football was more of entertainment. At this time, most Kenyans would create the little time possible to cheer up the national team all over the country. Back then we would go further to skip afternoon sessions in classes to watch the amazing talents in the team which never disappointed when it mattered the most.

The likes of Dennis Oliech, Musa Otieno, Robert Mambo, Emmanuel Ake, Francis Onyiso under the management of Jacob Mulee was a good side to sacrifice all for. 10 years down the line and things are totally different. People will rarely find time for the Stars as compared to watching their European teams.

I decided to watch the Kenya and Tanzania game at a local cinema hall where I attended the finals of the UEFA Champions league the previous night. The hall was full with over 100 fans when Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in a Milan final. The following day brought something different with a mere 10 patriots tuning up for the Kasarani game in the hall.

‘Leo nachukua shilingi kumi’ that was the statement I heard from the man in the hall who was collecting charges for the game. The least people would pay for a game is normally Ksh 20 and would go to Ksh 50. This was incredible. Not even renowned gamblers would risk betting for Kenya, maybe picking a win for the opponents would do.
Well, I do not blame the fans for these but they have all reasons to behave in such way. The attendance in the stadium was also a major concern, in fact the number of Fans present at Kasarani on Sunday was far below the numbers at a Gor Mahia or AFC Leopards match. The management has simply let them down and they demand a better performance from the players representing the nation.

Many people are affected in one way or the other when the national team is not performing well, including the local business people. Drastic measures should therefore be taken to improve the morale of football fans in the country.

Squad rotation not working for Kenya

Stars coach Okumbi has used different line-ups against all three opponents he has faced. Although this is a positive take that highlights Kenya’s wide range of talents, it does not provide what we have been yearning for.

The most consistent players in Okumbi’s line-up have been Victor Wanyama, Teddy Akumu, Joackins Atudo, David Owino, Michael Olunga, Jese Were and Bonface Oluoch. Other players have either been called up and dropped in the following games or forced to play as substitutes when their services were needed the most.

Perhaps this team is missing a consistent set of players who can match-up together. In most times, the Southampton midfielder is forced to adapt to different players in the middle of the pack. This is not good for a national team, considering the rare opportunity they have to train and gel together.

Players need to do their best

Enough of attack on the management, truth be told the players are also part of this under-performance. Certain things cannot be corrected by the manager like missing one-on-one opportunities with goalkeepers and poorly directed passes. We have seen complaints from the players concerning delays in payment or poor treatment that perhaps may have contributed to their low morale in games. I can't ignore this fact, however this should not be the scapegoat because they still perform dismally when they receive better treatment, having in mind this does not happen all the time. 

My first finger points at Boniface Oluoch, the Gor Mahia stopper has been impressive in most cases but sometimes fails to perform up to expectation. Tanzania’s opening goal on Sunday is largely to blame on Oluoch. He was far from his area when the ball went in, was he really going for the ball? Had he stayed at his spot or gone for the ball, things would be better by that time. That was a poor decision from the country’s second best trusted stopper.

Another area Kenya has not done well is in the attack. We boast of good strikers in Michael Olunga, Alan Wanga and Jesse Were but still they have not proved their worth enough. Not even the current Sportpesa Premier League leading scorer Wycliffe Ochomo could replicated his league’s scoring form in the national shirt.  Jesse Were has been impressive for his new side ZESCO United in the Zambian Premier League but he is yet to convert the goals for the Stars.

Fortunately all is not lost, we still have room for improvement despite all the predicament facing the team. There are few fans who share the same spirit I hold of things turning round one day and will never stop supporting this team. Nothing far from winning will convince Kenyans that things are back on track. At 116^th position, it is a shame to be proud of this team but my hope still rests on Mwendwa and his team. The next assignment is against Sudan tomorrow (Tuesday 31^st May) in a friendly match at Kasarani. Another test for Okumbi to prove his credibility from football pundits and fans.

Why UCL is Atletico’s to lose

                                Atletico Madrid players celebrating after scoring against Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League title (Photo/Courtesyibtimes).

Interestingly, one of the rare UEFA Champions League finals that no one ever saw coming at some point in the season. 10-times champions Real Madrid will be lining up against their Spanish and city rivals Atletico Madrid in Milan on Saturday night, a repeat of the 2014 finals. Previous meetings between these two sides have always sparked tension among players with hash tackles and flashes of cards being produced including inevitable redcards. Managers also get involved at certain incidences with the players especially Diego Simeone who has largely shaped his team. At the end, one team will have to fight hard to win or produce a draw which has also dominated most of their encounters.

To many, a Barcelona-Bayern final looked inevitable unless the two were slotted along the same path. But this is football, where surprises are never shot of display. Well, Saturday’s final will project nothing less than an enticing encounter between two rivals who have all reasons to be crowned champions. However, looking at both teams, my scorecard would without doubt be in favour of Diego Dimeone men.

Atletico have faced enough test

To become a champion you have to knock a champion, this is a common phrase in the game that at least gives players a morale-boosting performance when they face other opponents especially after edging past big challenges. Atletico Madrid knocked out defending champions Barcelona in the quarterfinal stage. Their next mountain was Germany Champions Bayern Munich in the semi-final which they took down without fears to book another final spot in the competition. This is in contrary to Zinedine Zidane’s charges who sailed through minor opponents in Roma, Wolfsburg and Manchester City enroute to the final.

Although beating Barca and Bayern is not a guarantee of any success in the final, truth be told that Diego Simeone has learnt a lot and endured a lot to become a winner in those four games in the two-legged ties. He knows what it takes to frustrate one of the game’s best players with his crafted defensive set-up. Not even the holy trinity of MSN (Messi, Suarez and Neymar) could come up with a solution to the Argentine’s plan. Not to forget the king of Tiki Taka, Pep Guardiola who only had to watch helplessly and in despair as his team faced elimination from the only tournament he has not won with the German champions.

Real’s enroute to the final does not in any way prove their worth this season, having in mind that an Arsenal team or a struggling Chelsea could easily have made it to the final through the same path. But a final is always decided in normal 90 minutes and there is no away goal rule to count on in this situation.

Simeone’s record against Real

Diego Simeone has lost only once in the last 10 games against the Los Blancos, and this in some way gives him a cutting age ahead of the final showdown. Despite boasting an impressive record over their city rivals, there is one particular area Simeone has not done to his perfection, this is in the champions league. Real overcame Atletico 4-1 in after 120 minutes of play during the 2014 final. The tie ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to a late Sergio Ramos equalizing header before Carlo Ancelotti’s side by then rallied to net three more securing their 10^th record UCL title. To Atletico fans, it was something similar to grabbing a prey from a hunter who had taken a whole day chasing his target, you can guess how it feels. The following season provided a great platform for Atletico to revenge when the two were paired in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, the plan failed yet again as Real matched to the last four with a 1-0 aggregate.

Since then the two have met twice in La Liga, starting with a 1-1 draw at Vicente Calderon on October last year followed by Atleti’s 1-0 win over Real at Santiago Bernabeu on February this year. Perhaps the Los Blancos may feel superior in European platform over their neighbours but Zidane will definitely be going for his first win over Simeone since taking charge of Real earlier this year. On the other side, the Argentine will be looking to amend his mistakes this time round and lift his first UCL title with the club.

Injury-stricken Real not fit

This team has faced numerous challenges this season in terms of injuries, something that has greatly affected their level of performance. Among the players who have already paid a visit to the team’s medical doctors are Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Marcelo and Raphael Varane. Out of the Saturday’s final is Varane but Ronaldo still remains a doubt. Bale had also recently recovered from injury same as Benzema whose form has drastically deteriorated. The only fit attacker in the squad is Bale who has rose to the occasion to save points for Real in absence of Ronaldo and Benzema.

The talking point so far is whether the Portuguese star will be fit for the match with recent reports casting doubts over his recovery. Ronaldo’s doctors are undoubtedly enjoying few hours of sleep to ensure their best man is back on the pitch. Imagining Real playing a final without Ronaldo and a formless Benzema against Atletico Madrid, is one of a rare open opportunity for Simeone to launch revenge.

This however looks less likely to happen since earlier this week Ronaldo and Zidane were quoted expressing their confidence of the three times World player of the year making it on time. Whether Ronaldo returns or not, he will most likely not have a comfortable game and may be forced to struggle. Similar to against Manchester City in the second leg, his return may not save Real from Atleti’s impressive display, unless we believe in miracles.

UCL Barca spell may favour Atleti

It is widely presumed that sending Barcelona out of the competition in the past decade gives a blessing of the title. Many teams have done it and went on to grab the top prize. The likes of Inter Milan, Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are among the beneficiaries of this. In 2014, Atleti eliminated Barca in quarterfinal but slipped to a famous UCL hoodoo; no team has beaten Real to the title in the past decade apart from Barcelona.

This may sound mad because there is neither mathematical nor logical reasons behind the trend, but it does happen. Similar to retaining the title, many teams have attempted to break these spells but all end in vain.

Saturday’s action will once again bring a clash of two UCL spells. Will Barca’s blessings lift Atleti to the title or Real’s hoodoo reign once again?

Above all, Saturday’s final will be no walkover for any team, a renewed rivalry between city neighbours awaits football fans all over the globe. Even those who hate the game might just found themselves having a glimpse of what is happening in Milan. But to be precise, I see Atletico sailing through in a long night that may take more than 120 minutes of your time.

Spanish trio set for final league Showdown

Barca,Atletico,Real continue their charges as La Liga race boils up with two matches remaining. (Photo/Sport.es)

Football World will be keen to watch how La Liga title race goes in the coming two weeks as leaders Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid continue pushing onto their dreams of bagging this season’s accolade. The three teams finished their weekend assignments on Saturday on a positive note leaving things tight as ever. Barca beat 10-man Real Betis 2-0 on Saturday night courtesy of goals from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez. Earlier on, Antoine Griezmann’s strike helped Atletico to a 1-0 against Rayo Vallecano while Gareth Bale’s header earned Real three points in a 1-0 route of Real Sociedad at a diffucult Anoeta stadium. 

Well, this was a topic far from discussion barely a month ago but an unforgivable mistakes by Barcelona saw them lose three successive league matches against Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Valencia bringing the race back on track.

Full concentration, character and some lucky charm are required from all the three sides in each and every game at this moment because a slight slip may prove costly at the end. Following the weekend wins, Barca and Atletico still lead the charges with 85 points although the Catalans are above with a head-head advantage. Real come third on 84 points. 

Here are my takes of the task ahead of each of these three teams as well as a final prediction of who may take the title home.

Barcelona

The defending champions will blame themselves for the change of matters to this heated battle. Before the Clasico tie, Barca were 9 points clear of Atletico and 10 above Real. At this point it was insane to include the two Madrid teams in the race. However, this is football and now things are different. The Catalans led by their attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar (MSN) need to forget all about their past and amend their lapse to win the league, at least for the fans.

Barca has an awaiting derby with Espanyol at Camp Nou before closing their league season curtain at Granada. Barcelona fans will attest that Espanyol is not an easy opponent to face at this time when winning is not an option. The European giants were the better side winning both legs when the two faced each other in round 16 of Copa Del Rey tie. But before this was a barren draw at Espanyol in a league match. Such matches provide much intensity and confrontation among players, something that may interfere with Barca's perfomance. Luis Enrique need to be cautious and instruct his players to keep it cool and avoid any collision and rough argument with Espanyol players to achieve what they want the most now.

Another waiting opponent Granada is not a big match for Barca considering how easy the Catalans have dominated in their past meetings. However, underrating an opponent at this stage may be a punishable offence, therefore with Champions League already out of reach, Enrique has all the reasons to retaining the league and Copa Del Rey final against Sevilla in order to restore his trust among the club’s stakeholders.

Atletico Madrid

It is no doubt that this teams has performed against all odds both domestically and continentally, proving that they also belong among the best in Europe. Atletico ended Barca’s dream of becoming the first side to retain the Champions League title by knocking them out in the quarter final stage. The Diego Simeone inspired side are also a step away from another final with a 1-0 lead over Bayern Munich ahead of their return leg in their semi-final encounter. Simeone will be more delighted if he further inflicts injury on Barca by denying them the league as well. But first there are two awaiting fixtures against Levante and Celta Vigo.

It is injustice to say Atletico will fall to any of these two challenges when they have proved enough they can topple bigger sides in Europe. Against Levante I see the normal 1-0 win for Atletico, a score that has dominated in most of their final score boards regardless of the opponents. The trickiest however, will be Celta Vigo who pulled a 3-2 win in their first leg encounter. Celta’s game is no more that different from Atletico’s philosophy and this may be a great contest to watch out for at the end. With the champions league in mind, Atletico will need more concentration as compared to the league leaders in the title race.

Real Madrid

None of Madrid fans could confidently count on their chances of winning this league few weeks ago, but with a spirited side led by Zinedine Zidane anchored by Barca's misfortunes, things are finally changing for the Los Blancos. Similarly to their city rivals, Real are few minutes from reaching the final of the Champions league after securing a barren draw at Manchester City in their first leg encounter. A return leg at Barnebeu will determine whether they proceed to another final to claim a record 11^th champions league title. 

In Spain, all that Real need is win their remaining two matches against Valencia and Deportivo hoping Barca and Atletico draw or lose one of their two ties.

Deportivo is not a major scare for the Los Blancos with their recent encounters leaving Depo badly damaged. However, a slight challenge will come from Valencia. The two teams have produced a 2-2 draw in their past two meetings meaning Real need to toil hard to earn three points against this side. This will undoubtedly be a close fight keeping in mind Valencia’s 2-1 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou last month. With Zidane at the stands, i see Real completing these tasks on a high note at any cost.

Final Prediction

All Enrique need is simply win the remaining two matches and the league will be lifted back to Catalonia. Atletico and Real will need to win first with the other eye set on the opposite title challengers. Mathematically its much open but analytically I would go for Barca retaining the league. They have recovered from their recent disappointments and there is no way falling back for this star studded team. The Catalans appear to have healed from their champions league exit and currently only have the league in mind.

The Madrid teams are still active in the Champions League but and an exit before La Liga ends may trouble them psychologically. 

I see no major changes in the table at the end of the league with Barca claiming the title on a head-head advantage over Atletico with Real maintaining their third spot.