Following the 2010 African Cup of Nations final qualifying round draw, which placed Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya and Mozambique in group B, I was amazed to read an assertion by a local journalist that Kenya has never beaten Tunisia. The fact is that Kenya beat Tunisia in Nairobi 1-0 during the Fourth All African Games held in 1987.
Another journalist declared in a head line: "Group of death" Kenya's group doesn't look that frightening, really. We can easily beat Mozambique home and away and secure the third qualifier slot - depending of course, on how we prepare for the qualifiers. To me, Group A, consisting of Cameroon, Morocco, Gabon and Togo looks more like it! One giant from this group is likely never going to see Angola 2010.
As we gear up to the challenge of facing Africa's big boys during the final round of 2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifiers Kenyans should be worried by the current forms of Oliech's strike patners- Of the eight goals scored during the just concluded round of qualifiers, Oliech netted five, with Makacha, Mariga and Njoroge accounting for one each.
Njoroge is a defender while Mariga and Makacha are mid fielders- where are the other strikers? Lets do some thing about this, so that while our opponents are busy out marking Oliech, his partners will steal from nowhere and finish them.
Our Youthful Coach, Francis Kimanzi is doing wonders with Harambee Stars- This recurrent talk by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Raila Odinga, that he is in contact with 'friends' to give us a foreign coach should cease immediately so that Kimanzi can concetrate on preparing the team for the second round of qualifiers for 2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations- This is where the real fireworks are, hence, maximum concentration required.
Further more Nigeria's Daniel Amokachi, while in Nairobi recently reminded us that we must learn to trust our local coaches- And Kimanzi himself has said this. Why don't we give him a chance to show us what he is got. Remember, Nigeria played in the final of the 2008 Olympics Soccer under their famous star Samson Siasia. Bob Munro also wondered loudly the other day- if it aint broken, why fix it? Good luck Kimanzi.
