6 lessons from Kenya's victory over Uganda at CECAFA 2015

After a nightmarish second round, second leg World Cup 2018 qualifier outing against Cape Verde only six days ago, Kenya returned to the pitch on a mission to defend the CECAFA title they won in 2013 a completely different side.

Uganda must have recalled with relish the shambolic preparations and travel plans that ended Harambee Stars dream of featuring in the groups phase of the Russia 2018 qualifiers, but by the time the match day referee blew his final whistle, Uganda had soaked in two goals without reply.

What lessons did we learn from this tie that has tended to go Uganda's way in recent times?

1. Boniface Oluoch has undergone a real transformation
I did not expect to say this in my two consecutive posts but here I am: Boniface Oluoch has become a real good goalkeeper. The good form he has enjoyed with Gor Mahia and the opportunities he has had with Harambee Stars have obviously had a positive effect on him. His previous uncertainties and erratic judgement have gone away and today he was an assured custodian in Kenya's goal. Suddenly, Arnold Origi is not being missed that much.

2. Kenya can actually defend

Apart from Boniface Oluoch having a perfect day in the office, Harambee Stars defenders were superb. The partnership between David 'Calabar' Owino and David 'Cheche' Ochieng in central defence was just a joy to watch. The two cleared aerial balls from the danger area beautifully, timed their tackles to perfection and imposed their physical presence in front of Kenya's goal so well that they deserve huge credit for the clean sheet that Kenya kept in the match. On the flanks, the returning Noah Abich was an assured and experienced general, completely aware of when to attack and when to defend his right channel. On the left flank, the fast rising new kid on the block, Omar Mbongi played as though he has been playing for the national team for years, the kid is definitely going places. considering that Kenya has had so many problems in this position over the years, that is a huge statement

3. Kenya's midfield can play nice football

Well, some people, especially opposing coaches, have a habit of calling Kenya a 'physical team devoid of technical finesse'. I believe that is an unfortunate and misplaced stereotype. I have watched Harambee Stars since I was a kid and midfield has been one of the strongest departments of the team. Even in the absense of Ayub Timbe, Victor Wanyama and Johanna Omollo, Kenya's midfield functioned perfectly and totally outplayed the Ugandans. Kudos to Collins Okoth, Anthony Akumu, Clifton Miheso and Eric Johanna

4. Kenya is not lacking in striking power

When I watched Jacob Keli running Ugandan defenders rugged, I wondered why he had not played enough times for Harambee Stars in recent times. The lad was sharp, light and creative and he was rewarded with a beautiful goal. As for Michael Olunga, well, he is making it a habit of scoring in every match that he plays. My only issue is why coach Bobby Williamson brought him on in place of Jacob Keli rather than Jesse Were. I was particularly disappointed by Were's miss in front of open goal. I hope Keli and Olunga can play together in Kenya's next match. And we have the experienced Allan Wanga on the bench too - he won us the CECAFA title in 2013!

5. Kenya did not deserve to lose against Cape Verde

Even with all the noise about Cape Verde being ranked number four in Africa, Harambee Stars gave a real good account of themselves when the Cape Verdians came to Nairobi. With some clinical finishing and some luck, the first leg tie should have finished with more than one goal and the story might have become more interesting for the return leg in Praia four days later.

6. With proper football management, Kenya can go far

The classic Kenyan football mismanagement was in full display as FKF messed with Kenya's chances of prolonging their 2018 World Cup dream. What with players protesting non-payment of allowances and air ticket non-refunds. In what could be entered for an Oscar of some sort, the so-called football managers messed with the team's travel plans and it was a miracle that the team actually did leave for Cape Verde at all. Not much else could be expected from the team, however, and to me, their 2-0 loss sounded like a victory. If only we could get serious guys with real interest in development of Kenyan football, even the World Cup finals would be within our reach. For now though, let us take care of the successful CECAFA championship defence. 

Oluoch, you finally earn my plaudits!

I am a regular critic of Kenya's national team goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch. Every time I have seen him in Kenya's goal, I have shuddered in fear, praying hard that he doesn't make his inexplicable dashes out of goal.

Yesterday, as Kenya beat Cape Verde 1-0 in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup second round qualifier, I had nothing but admiration for the Gor Mahia custodian. He was so calm around his goal area, and he marshalled well his defenders in moments of anxiety.

Even when Cape Verde managed to shoot on target - which was rare - Oluoch was well placed to make the perfect save.

It was a bit strange that in the wake of such poor preparations, Kenya put on such a decent performance. Cape Verde were supposed to come to Nairobi and run riot, itself quite a weird expectation, considering that ten years ago, the Islanders were mere babies in African football and we confirmed this by beating them home and away when we last met.

I suspect they were themselves highly expectant of an easy victory, considering the huge progress they have made even as Kenya has slid down the ranks of world football. Fortunately, it turned out to be quite an easy victory for Kenya. Indeed, the Stars should have pumped in a few more goals into the Cape Verdian goal but for the finishing errors by Kenya's forward line.

As sweet as the victory tasted, it is only a job half done. The tough part awaits in four day's time when Harambee Stars return to Cape Verde, almost twelve years since they registered a famous 1-0 victory there.

Then, not much was expected from the tiny Atlantic ocean Islanders, but things are remarkably different this time round. Sitting in a fairy-tale position as the 32nd ranked team in FIFA's global football rankings, Cape Verde have risen tremendously from a lowly 182nd position in 2000 to emerge as a feared African football powerhouse. How a tiny nation of half a million people has managed to achieve such a remarkable feat is a story for another day.

When Kenyan players take the pitch on Tuesday evening, they must remain awake - for all ninety minutes - to the fact that they are playing a dangerous side that can quickly turn their current feelings of elation into a painful experience. Stay alert for ninety minutes and we are in the group stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

We have one motivating factor going into the match - we have played Cape Verde three times and won 1-0 three times. Another 1-0 scoreline in Praia is all we need! To hell with FIFA rankings! Come on Haramee Stars! And, Boniface Oluoch, Bravo!

Letter to K'ogalo - Congratulations and aim higher next season

Hi K'ogalo, allow me to express my heartfelt congratulations to you for raising the standards of football in our country once again.

In 1987, I keenly followed you as you progressed through the preliminary stages  of the then African Cup Winners Cup (Nelson Mandela Cup) and currently, the CAF Confederation Cup, before finally destroying Esperance FC of Tunisia in the final to make history as the only regional club to have lifted a Continental trophy.

Twenty Eight years later that record still stands. I have just witnessed another record-equalling performance by you as you have won the 2015 SportPesa Premier League undefeated. The fact that you have won the premier league title three times in a row surely makes you one of the greatest football squads ever assembled in Kenya. In that respect, allow me to salute your coaches and their technical committees as well.

Even as you made every one in Kenya's football tremble in your wake. You went to Tanzania and made us proud by ably competing at the 2015 CECAFA Club Championship. I still believe you were capable of beating Azam FC of Tanzania in the final but somehow, you just did not put up a real performance when it mattered most.

As I am writing this, you are right on target to win all trophies available locally and doing that will only enhance your pedigree some more.

At this juncture, allow me to warn you that success has its costs. The values of most of your players must have increased from what they were at the beginning of the season. As such, it is not a matter of if but, rather, when people will come calling at your door with tempting deals to lure your star performers away. Even your coach might become a target of this talent raid. Yo need to put up a real fight to keep your great squad together.

Even as you try to guard your players and coaches from covetous suitors, you need to strengthen in your areas of weakness. I can tell you for free that you need to bring in a star goalkeeper if you intend to - and you need to - put up a decent performance at the continental stage next year. I believe you also need to get in a star defender and midfielder as well.

For the year 2016, I set for you the targets of successfully defending or winning your local competitions, but more important, I would love to see you winning the 2016 CECAFA Club Championship and progressing to the group stages of the CAF Champions League. Do that and you begin to re-establish yourselves as a continental football force once again.

I cannot conclude this letter without paying tribute to your great army of supporters - what could Kenyan stadiums look like without the colourful green army? My humble request is that your followers - or the few bad elements - drop the ugly habit that is football hooliganism. You will realise that doing that will actually enhance your reputation as you hunt for sponsors - a highly valuable component of modern football.

FKF killing Kenyan football: The umpteenth time

They say that lightning doesn't strike twice but for Kenyan football, it strikes far too many times.

At the beginning of the current football season, there was a crisis and stalemate that threatened to take Kenyan football fifteen years back.

This happened after Kenya Premier League, the company comprising of premier league clubs that has run the Kenyan premier league with great professionalism and commitment, stamped its feet and resisted Footba Kenya Federation's attempts to usurp the role of managing premier league football in the country.

Predictably, FKF bigwigs stood their ground and renamed what was then the second tier football league in the country as the FKF-Premier League, and declared it as the only legally recognised football premier league in the country.

All of a sudden, we were back to the era of parallel football leagues in the country. To ensure the FKF-PL became functional, FKF threatened KPL clubs, declared their fixtures list illegal and took them to court. Non-KPL clubs, powerless against FKF's intimidation, became willing participants in the latest episode of ruining Kenyan football.

Luckily, the courts ruled against FKF's request to have the KPL banned as the organisers of Kenya's football premier league. However, the madness continued on the pitch as two parallel premier league seasons kicked into high gear in the country.

It took the intervention of FIFA to restore some sense of normality when through the global football body's mediation, FKF and KPL agreed to run the parallel leagues only for this one season, with an agreed number of clubs from the FKF-PL gaining promotion to the KPL at the end of the season, while an equal number from the KPL were to be relegated to take the places of the promoted sides.

Now, as the football season draws to a close, it is increasingly appearing unlikely that there will be a harmonised league system come next season.

First of all, FKF-PL clubs have discovered that FKF cannot be trusted with premier league management in the country. Every body else knew this already. Before KPL was formed, FKF had brought the country's football to its knees with highly suspicious boardroom decisions clearly designed to favour some teams while punishing others.

More than ten years later, FKF-PL clubs have went on strike, boycotting football matches to protest against discriminatory boardroom decisions by the FKF big wigs - a case of classic deja vu.

Another confrontational front opening up is a claim by FKF to the effect that they are the only ones mandated to decide the number of teams to be promoted or relegated. To this effect, FKF  is saying it will relegate four teams from the KPL and promote six from their own FKF-PL. Amongst the six would-be upgraded clubs are those alleged to be benefitting from unfairly awarded points.

You can already begin to see an obvious decline in football standards at the premier league, but does the FKF care? Will the eighteen-team league format be acceptable to everyone or are we facing another stalemate come next season?

A perfect solution to this endless circus would be to ensure that at the next FKF elections, the whole lot of current office holders are sent packing, paving way for a completely new set of officials, who hopefully, will have learnt a lesson not to rub Kenyan football stakeholders the wrong way.

40 call ups for Cape Verde date: Panic or strategy?

Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson has set the ball rolling for the forthcoming world cup qualifier tie against Cape Verde on November 13 by unveiling a provisional squad of 40-odd players.

With the huge reward for the winner of this tie being a ticket to the group stage to battle for one of Africa's five slots for Russia 2018, everything done in the way of preparing the team should be geared towards ensuring that the team becomes stronger, not weaker.

With the short time between preparation and match-day, I wonder whether inviting so many players to camp is a wise consolidation strategy to plug weaknesses identified from the Mauritius preliminary tie or a risky tinkering adventure that might backfire come match day.

The provisional squad retains regulars like Victor Wanyama, Ayub Timbe, Johanna Omollo, Allan Wanga, and Arnold Origi. However, the coach sprung a major surprise by introducing a quartet of complete unknowns to the team.

Majority of Kenyans will be hearing of Nicholas Kipkirui (Zoo Kericho), Ken Maritim (Ligi Ndogo), Mark Bikokwa Baraza (Nzoia United) and Calvince Omanga (Palos FC) for the first time. 

A Gotv Shield Cup tie between Gor Mahia and Palos FC introduced Palos' striker Omanga to Kenya's football fans after the youngster scored too classy goals against Gor, obviously impressing national selectors. The other three are yet to have their day of national limelight but I believe that they must be good enough to earn national call ups. 

While it is good to have a continuous programme of injecting new blood to the national team, I believe this should be done in such a way that it does not affect the stability of the team, especially in the run up to major national assignments like the one coming up in two weeks' time.

I believe that coach Williamson has most of his starting eleven sorted out already and all he is doing is bringing in new players for assessment for possible integration into the national team in case they prove good enough to plug the weak points in the team. 

That is obviously a good strategy that can ensure the team grows stronger, especially with the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, where the foreign based players will most likely not feature, just around the corner. In deed, the fact that the coach has been bold enough to name untested players from the little clubs is laudable, considering that most selections have been from the traditional big clubs.

The worry would be if the naming of the huge provisional squad, including the four fresh call ups, was a panic reaction triggered by the looming Cape Verde tie. I hope that is not the case.    

Done with Mauritius, bring on Cape Verde - We are Harambee Stars!

It has been quite a while since my last post here. While I was away, Zambia came to Nairobi and confirmed my fears by beating Kenya 2-1, making our task of qualifying for Afcon 2017 much harder.

During the same period, Gor Mahia confirmed what had for weeks become a mere formality by winning a third consecutive premier league title, the first of three titles that they can win in what has been definitely a wonderful season for the club.

Another development during the same time was the emergence of Gor Semelang'o and Nick Mwendwa as serious challengers to Sam Nyamweya's stranglehold on Kenya's football chiefdom. And only a few days ago, Kenya went to Mauritius and ran riot, thumping the Indian Ocean Islanders 5-2. 

The return leg five days later ended as an anti-climax for Kenyan fans when a resolute Mauritian defence and an inspired goalkeeper ensured there would be no more free scoring. Apart from the 0-0 scoreline, however, Kenya's performance was satisfactory, really. 

The defence worked well, skipper Victor Wanyama controlled the midfield well and several scoring chances were created, with striker Michael Olunga missing a couple good ones and hitting the goal post twice.

With qualification for the next stage of World Cup 2018 qualifiers now assured - and here a fancied Cape Verde side awaits - one would have hoped for some kind of miraculous commitment from the Football Kenya Federation to ensure we increase our chances of beating Cape Verde and entering the group stage. 

Instead, the usual mediocrity of local football management was at play immediately after the match, with players complaining about non-payment of allowances. Already, Kenya's number one goalkeeper Anorld Origi had boycotted the two legged qualifier against Mauritius, protesting against the non-refunding of money he spent travelling to Kenya for national duty. 

And as Kenya prepared to face Mauritius in Nairobi, Kenya's players were rumoured to have been planning a boycott of the tie - before they were talked out of it.

Is this the way to prepare to face a Cape Verdian side that we easily beat home and away ten years ago, but which has since improved so vastly that they have to wait for us in a later qualification round as we negotiate ourselves out of trouble against the minnows of African football that Mauritius surely are?

What the Cape Verdians have done over the ten years, and what we have not done, is the reason we are steadily going backward as the tiny Atlantic Ocean Islanders confidently climb the ladder of world football. If we are not careful, ten years from now, Mauritius will beat us home and away and we shall be left wondering how we can lose to a team that we dismissed quite easily ten years back.

These are the thoughts that should preoccupy us as we prepare to vote in new football administrators. Whoever is able to read this post and has some power to influence the election outcome should forego selfish interest and put the interest of Kenyan football first. 

We need committed and selfless leaders to get us out of the dark hole we have dug for ourselves so that in future, we do not have to tremble with fear at the thought of facing Africa's "Cape Verdes". These are the kind of opponents we should be relishing coming up against, any day, any time.

Meanwhile, I wish Harambee Stars all the best as they plot to defeat Cape Verde in November, whatever the circumstances. Go! Go! Stars! Kenya's long suffering football fans are solidly behind you!

Kenya vs Zambia: Who will blink first?

Kenya returns to the pitch on Sunday 6th against Zambia intent on securing her first win of the 2017 Afcon qualifiers and boosting chances of appearing at the continental football tournament for the first time since 2004.

That is easier said, though, as Zambia have a higher pedigree in African football compared to Kenya. After all, the Chipolopolo are regular Afcon finals participants and actually won the tournament in 2012.

Ranked 18th in Africa and 73rd in the world, Zambia are 43 places above Kenya in the global FIFA rankings.

All countries in Kenya’s Afcon group E (including Guinea Bissau and Congo) are on one point after the first round of matches, where Kenya drew 1-1 with Congo and Zambia were held to a 0-0 draw by Guinea Bissau. Does that give Kenya hope?

The last time Kenya met Zambia in the Afcon qualifiers was in 1999, when the Zambians won 1-0 home and away. In fact, Kenya have not beaten Zambia in the Afcon before and the overall head-to-head record is overwhelmingly in favour of Zambia.

Since the two countries first met in 1964, they have played each other 34 times, with Kenya winning six times, drawing six times and losing 22 times. The most recent encounter was during the 2009 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup tournament held in Nairobi where Harambee Stars lost 0-2 to the Zambians.

Against this background, do we stand any chance of beating the Zambians and enhancing our chances of qualifying for Gabon 2017? At the start of the qualifying process, it would have been very easy to answer ‘yes’, especially after Kenya threatened to embarrass the highly fancied Congolese in their own backyard before a schoolboy mistake by defender Jackson Saleh gifted them a penalty and the match ended one all.

Two months later, Kenyan fans’ apprehension must be growing that come Sunday evening, they might find themselves on the loosing side yet again.

This should not be the case, especially now that Kenya can again boast of decently talented footballers. We now have numerous players featuring competitively in foreign leagues, the most prominent being undoubtedly Southampton’s Victor Wanyama.

For the first time in a long while, we have a situation where coach Bobby Williamson is spoilt for choice in terms of selecting strikers. Gor Mahia’s Michael Olunga and Tusker FC’s Jesse Were are enjoying top scoring form in the SportsPesa Premier League while Jacob Keli must have learnt one new trick or two from his experience playing in the Zambian league.

As talented as Kenya’s current squad is, the issue of poor preparations might return to haunt us as the case has been many times in the past. Responding to journalists questions after a training session, coach Williamson acknowledged that Zambia had enjoyed better preparations than Kenya and as such held an edge leading to the Sunday encounter.

"Of course, they (Zambia) will always have an advantage but it (early preparation) was out of our hands . It was a question of whether we will have the players and whether the clubs would release them,” said Mr Williamson.

If one were not from Kenya, it would be easy to wonder how the Zambians managed to organise a three-week training programme for their national team while Harambee Stars are counting on four days of training to put together a winning formula against their dangerous opponents.

However, as Kenyans, we know that FKF hardly ever gets anything right. They are the classic ‘reap where you did not sow’ kind of organisation. They are probably already preparing to praise themselves in case of a win and to blame someone if we lose. It was especially disheartening to hear a FKF official talking of ticketing arrangements when he was asked abouk Kenya's preparations for the match.

One other problem facing Kenya is the mental strength of captain Victor Wanyama, whose attempt to engineer a move to Tottenham Spurs was swiftly snuffed out, accompanied with a strong warning from Saints coach Ronald Koeman. Is he currently in the right frame of mind to play?

Additionally, a comedy of errors meant that Paul Were’s  mooted move to Gor Mahia never materialised and the player has thus missed precious playing time. Considering that he was Kenya’s brightest player in Congo, that is a great loss indeed.

And there is the small matter of goalkeeping. Kenya’s most reliable goalkeeper has been Arnold Origi for a long while now. While he has already played close to 2000 minutes for his club Lillestrom of Norway, the player seems reluctant to continue serving his motherland with dedication, yet that is the least we can ask of him.

If Origi is a no show again, we shall be left with the option of Gor Mahia’s  Boniface Oluoch, who will definitely torture millions of Kenyans silently praying for 90 minutes that he does not have one of his bad days in goal.

Having said all that, my hope is that we shall get that first Afcon win against Zambia and improve our chances of going to Gabon 2017. We have that Kenyan spirit that seems to drive us on even in the midst of the toughest of challenges. After all, we have home ground advantage - the 12th player. So, Go! Go! Stars!

Hooligans decide Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards tie

The 2015 SportsPesa Premier League second leg tie between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards was shaping up into one of the most entertaining mashemeji derby of recent times until acts of hooliganism brought the tie to its premature end in the 65th minute.

Gor versus AFC Leopards is always an explosive affair regardless of each team’s form. Gor Mahia are currently riding high as the unbeaten, run-away premier league leaders seeking their third consecutive league title. Leopards, on their part, are struggling in position five of the log , having last won the premier league in 1998.

This did not however stop the Ingwe supporters from pouring into Nyayo National Stadium, almost matching the huge turnout of the green army of Gor supporters, as both sets of fans sought to have their own say in the latest display of Kenya’s greatest club football rivalry.

Gor’s superiority showed throughout the match as they pounded the Leopards’ goal with crosses, some of which should have been converted into goals by the likes of Michael Olunga and Khalid Aucho but for keeper Lukas Indeche’s heroics.

Then in the 65th minute, AFC Leopards’ defender Jackson Saleh handled the ball and the referee pointed to the spot straight away. It was a clear and incontestable penalty but Leopards fans would not let Gor take it, instead throwing objects on the pitch and causing the match to be abandoned for security reasons.

I am beginning to wonder whether AFC leopard’s  Jackson Saleh derives some kind of pleasure from handling the ball in his penalty area. For heaven’s sake,  how can one explain the defender’s handling of the ball in the penalty area in three high stake matches in a row?

In June during Kenya’s first Afcon qualifier match against Congo,  Saleh denied Kenya a precious win in Congo by unnecessarily handling the ball in the penalty area. Two weeks later, he did the same against Ethiopia and contributed to Kenya’s elimination from the CHAN qualifiers.

Whatever the reasons for Saleh’s repeated errors, the latest handed Gor an opportunity to break the deadlock and pile more pressure on the Ingwe den but as stated, Ingwe fans thought otherwise.

While Leopards fans cannot escape responsibility for causing the tie’s abandonment, the incident also proved that we still have a long way in reaching high standards of stadium security management that are a prerequisite for a professionally run football league.

Although Gor fans behaved admirably during Ingwe fans provocation, there had been some disturbance at half time and referring to the disturbance, the match commissioner was quoted by Supersport explaining that he had asked the police to separate Gor and Leopards fans by creating a buffer zone between them but his advice was ignored.

Moving forward, whatever sanctions are ordered later by the Kenya Premier League, all parties involved in Kenya’s football administration must seek ways of ensuring that going to the stadium becomes a secure, enjoyable, family-friendly experience for all football lovers in the country. Hooliganism should not be allowed to thrive in Kenyan football.

Gor's defence of premier league title unstoppable

Kenyan premier league defending champions Gor Mahia returned to the SportsPesa Premier league in style after their exploits in the recently concluded CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Coach Frank Nuttal had asked his team to return to Kenya with a bang after their 2-0 loss against Tanzania’s Azam FC in the final and, with a 6-1 battering of KCB, they surely did that and some more.

Two classic finishes in the first half were enough to disorient a KCB side that only a week before had beaten Thika United 3-2.

Olunga’s finish for Gor’s first goal was the epitome of a confident attacker's strike as he rushed forward to calmly tap in Godfrey Walusimbi’s perfectly angled pass.

Then to prove that they were currently a class above everyone else in Kenya’s top league, the team fondly called Kogallo by their adoring fans put together a move of the season that started with captain Musa Mohammed’s inch perfect long pass that beautifully found Innocent Wafula around KCB’s 18 yard box.

Wafula dribbled around KCB’s three defenders as he calculated how to launch the perfect pass. When the pass came, it sweetly fell on Meddie Kagere’s right foot and the former APR man hit the best half volley you can expect to see in a game of football to make it 2-0.

In fact, the score should have been 4-0 by half-time but Olunga had two shots brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Zakary 
Onyango.

Gor continued their relentless attack of KCB goal in the second half and in the 56th minute, Kagere launched an assured run towards goal that resulted in defender Mark Odhiambo banging the ball into his own net to make it 3-0 for Gor.

Clearly complacent after their third goal, Gor’s defence went to sleep and gave former Gor striker Paul Kiongera the chance to tap in KCB’s consolation goal.

A late ferocious shot from Olunga was excellently saved by KCB's keeper
Zakary Onyango before Kagere (with his second), midfielder Khalid Aucho and substitute Enock Agwanda put the icing on Gor’s performance for a final 6-1score.

Overall, Gor Mahia’s performance was ample proof that they indeed are playing at a level above everyone else in Kenyan football at present.

It was also proof that their participation at the CECAFA Kagame Cup has given them an edge and swagger that might be enough to wrap up their defence of the premier league title in record time.

Wanyama should stay put at Southampton

It is that high season in European football again when clubs buy to strengthen their squads and sell the unwanted and want-aways.

Already, high profile deals have been concluded for the likes of Angel di Maria (Manchester United-Paris Saint Germain); Robin Van Persie (Manchester United- Fernebahche); Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich-Manchester United); and Raheem Sterling (Liverpool-Manchester City).

There are still some unresolved sagas like the one involving Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, whose linkage to Real Madrid has preoccupied journalists and fans throughout the transfer window. There are also some rumoured high profile signings like the one linking Manchester United with Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez.

Our very own Victor Wanyama of Southampton has not been spared from the rumour mills and reports suggesting the player would like to play Champions League football have been doing the rounds.

Like in the previous two seasons, big clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs and Fiorentina have been suggested as possible destinations for the Kenyan national team captain.

The best move for Wanyama, however, would be to stay put at Southampton, where he had a wonderful first season and enjoyed huge play time that he would certainly end up coveting were he to make a move to, say, Arsenal-where bench time would be beckoning.

With Morgan Sneiderlin having moved to Manchester United and Nathaniel Clyne to Liverpool, Wanyama's defensive midfield role at Southampton will be even more important at the club this season. Having settled so well at the Saints after moving from Celtic, the midfielder will be counted upon by both his coach  and fellow players to instil a calming influence in front of the team's back line.

Do Oliech and Mariga still have something to offer Harambee Stars?

With only weeks remaining before Kenya faces Zambia in the second match of the 2017 Afcon qualifiers, news that Dennis Oliech and Macdonald Mariga have been recalled to the national team must be music to the pair’s admirers but, at the same time, might have sounded like alarm bells to critics.

Dennis Oliech, is without a doubt, one of the greatest strikers that Kenya has ever produced. In deed, he blossomed at the same as England’s Wayne Rooney and Portugal’s Christano Ronaldo, and was at one time ranked amongst the top most young footballers with greatest promise.

Although he did not go on to dominate global football columns like Christiano and Rooney, Kenyans can confidently state that Oliech has been very important to the country’s national team for the past ten or so years.

It was due to his striking exploits that we made it to our last Afcon tournament in Tunisia in 2004, and he has filled us with joy on numerous occasions as we witnessed defenders cowering in the wake of his devastating runs towards opponents’ goal areas.

As for Mariga, well, what more could we have asked? In his prime, his contributions in midfield helped determine the difference between Kenya winning or losing matches. I remember especially his stand out performance when Kenya beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in a 2010 World Cup/Afcon qualifier.

That win put Kenya top of a group that also had Guinea and Namibia and, in deed, Harambee Stars eventually made it to the final qualifying round that was won by Nigeria after a big scare for the Super Eagles in Nairobi spearheaded by none other than Dennis Oliech. Were it not for some suspect refereeing, Kenya would have earned their first win against Nigeria on that evening.

Clearly, there are many good things that can be said about Mariga and Oliech as regards Kenyan football. But it has been quite a while now and huge question marks must be allowed as to whether these two great footballers should be fielded again in the national team.

After reaching the peak of his footballing career by winning the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan under current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, Mariga’s career took a downward trend worsened by injuries and, to be honest, he has never recaptured his defence splitting form ever since.

Oliech also thrived in France with Auxerre before he started a downward spiral mirrored by his club, got relegated with them and tried in vain to rebuild his career at Ajaccio. As I am writing this piece, I do not know which club Oliech currently plays for.

It is my hope, as it is for all lovers of Harambee Stars, that Coach Bobby Williamson has done some thorough due diligence on these great gentlemen and found them worthy to wear Kenyan national team colours again.

If there is still a trick or two that they can teach the likes of Michael Olunga, Jesse Were and Victor Wanyama, then let them be given a chance in the team to face Zambia in Nairobi.

Oluoch’s history of goalkeeping errors a source of discomfort for Gor and Harambee Stars

I liked goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch’s honesty when he was quoted in the media expressing his surprise at being named best goalkeeper at the recently concluded CECAFA Kagame Cup held in Tanzania.

To me, keeper Oluoch was completely at fault in conceding the second goal against Azam that effectively ended Gor Mahia's chances of getting back in the game.

This is what he said regarding his error of judgement that led to Azam’s second goal: "In this situation, I thought the ball was going out. When I realized it was actually coming towards goal, it was too late and realized I could have hit my head on the goal post if I had tried going for it.”

As long as it remained 0-1, Gor had realistic hopes of getting one goal back and taking the match into extra time. However, once it was 0-2 in the second half of a cup final, it was game over for the Kenyan premier league champions.

It is very difficult to categorise Oluoch as either an exceptional or hopeless keeper. In one instance he can produce magical brilliance to stop goal bound shots. In another, he can commit totally inexplicable goalkeeping errors that leave you wondering whether to laugh or cry.

A number of errors committed by the former APR and Tusker goalkeeper strongly vindicate my position. What should have been a dream Harambee Stars debut in December 2010 quickly turned into a nightmare for keeper Oluoch.

After a dismal performance by first choice keeper Wilson Obung’u against Malawi, Oluoch was preferred for Kenya’s second match against Ethiopia in the 2010 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. This is how journalist Patrick Korir summed up Oluoch’s performance that evening:

...Oluoch’s performance must be dubbed relative. A 25th minute free kick that gave Ethiopia its first goal left the Tusker keeper glued to the spot. But he can be forgiven as there was a slight deflection to the kick that left him stuck.

Somewhere in the game against Ethiopia, Oluoch raced to clear a ball outside the box and his clearance fell right at the foot of an Ethiopian player. But luckily, the player who got the ball was a bit shocked at the ‘ball on a platter’ and sent the ball way above a yawning net leaving Kenyans relieved. It could have been 3-0 for Ethiopia.

But in the last game against Uganda on Sunday evening, a seemingly even game between Kenya and Uganda was set to end with Kenya trailing 0-1.

earned a needless red card

But Oluoch went berserk. With seconds left in the game, the keeper went up for an easy picking but stuck out his left foot planting it right into the chest of Ugandan substitute Robert Ssentongo.

The move shocked all as the keeper, in only his second cap for Stars, earned a needless red card and conceded a ‘stupid’ penalty that was converted by Andy Mwesigwa for Kenya to go down 0-2 to their arch rivals.

Oluoch’s action was too damn to defend with his coach Jacob Ghost Mulee not anywhere close to his defense.

“I cannot understand what he was up to” is what he had to say of his keeper.

Two years later, Tusker were Kenya’s representatives at the 2012 CECAFA Kagame Cup held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tusker needed to win against Tanzania's Azam FC to proceed beyond the group stage but, with Boniface Oluoch in goal, Tusker could only manage a 0-0 score.

A live text commentary by journalist Dennis Machio captures a common feature of Oluoch’s goalkeeping errors thus:

Tusker FC keeper Boniface Oluoch has been handed a red card in the ongoing group B match against Azam for handling the ball out of his area. In his place comes substitute Samuel Odhiambo who is also an equally strong keeper.

The resultant free kick from the foul on the top of the box taken by Azam rattled the cross bar.Andrew Murunga had to be sacrificed for Odhiambo.

Tusker needs to win the match to be assured of qualifying for the quarter finals of the CECAFA Kagame Cup having drawn their first match against Mafunzo of Zanzibar 0-0.

A 0-0 draw against Azam today or a loss  will see the Kenyan champions pack their bags for Nairobi.

This same Oluoch error trait manifests itself again in a 2013 DSTV/SuperSport Cup match between tusker and Gor Mahia. On this occassion, Boniface Oluoch rushed outside his box and handled the ball, earning an automatic exit from the match. 

Then Tusker FC’s coach Robert Matano’s anger at the keeper is captured in this exerpt of the match report by journalist Otieno Otieno:

Tusker coach Robert Matano has expressed disappointment with goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch for being sent off early in Saturday's DSTV/SuperSport Cup match against rivals Gor Mahia.

Matano said the keeper showed indiscipline in allowing himself to be sent off early in the match and hinted that he may be forced to take disciplinary action.

Oluoch handled outside his box and earned a straight red card from referee Sylvester Kirwa. Tusker went on to relinquish the trophy after losing 4-4 on post match penalties after the match had ended 0-0 in normal time.

Speaking after Saturday's match, Matano expressed anger at the goalkeeper's performance pointing out that they should have won the match with 11 eleven men on the pitch.

"It is disheartening that a goalkeeper of his experience can make such a mistake. It is not the first time he is doing this and something must be done to him," he said.

And in June this year, Kenya was playing against hosts Congo in the first match of the 2017 Afcon qualifiers. At some point in the match, Oluoch inexplicably rushed outside his box to challenge a
Congolese striker, who happily chipped him. Luckily defender David 'Cheche' Ochieng made a timely clearance and prevented another Oluoch disaster.

In September, Kenya is poised to play Zambia in the second match of the 2017 Afcon qualifiers in Nairobi and it is my hope that somebody else, rather than Oluoch, will be keeping goal for Kenya.

As for his continued first choice status for Gor Mahia, my position is that he is one of the team’s weakest links. If Gor Mahia seriously harbour designs of winning regional and continental trophies, they must shop for a top class goalkeeper.  

Latest SportPesa sponsorship deal great but we can do better

It is great news indeed that the Kenya Premier League have signed a new sponsorship deal with local betting firm SportPesa, said to be in the region of Ksh 360 million spread over four and half years.

The revival of Kenyan football owes a lot to the return of football sponsorship in the country, with the Supersport-KPL deal several years ago laying a firm foundation for the decent football successes being enjoyed in the local football scene today.

The importance of sponsorship to the well being of Kenyan football was aptly acknowledged by KPL Chairman Ambrose Rachier during the official announcement of the Sportspesa deal on Thursday.

“We warmly welcome SportPesa to KPL. The sponsorship will help maintain the level of success the league has enjoyed in the region,” Mr Rachier said.  

According to Nairobi News, the agreement is for Ksh 80 million with a ten percent increment every year bringing the total figure over the entire duration of the contract to around Sh 360 million.

This would be a great improvement on the previous sponsorship of Ksh 170 million from East Africa Breweries Limited that expired in June.

Before the signing of a US$ 5.5 million television broadcast rights deal between Supersport and KPL, Kenyan football had sunk to its lowest level, with the best Kenyan footballers abandoning local clubs for greener pastures in Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

However, the deal not only brought these players back home but started an influx of foreign players into local football that has persisted to date. The Supersport deal was later enhanced to about Ksh 1 billion and is in its final year.

These deals have shown us a glimpse of what is possible with proper and professional football management. Indeed, were it not for football sponsorship, instead of cheering Gor Mahia at the recently concluded CECAFA Kagame Cup in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, we would have long mourned and forgotten its demise from Kenyan football.

We are all witnesses to what money can do to a country’s football, the reference here of course being the English Premier League, which was transformed into the best football league in the world through the injection of astronomical amounts of cash from both inside and outside Great Britain.

The league only recently announced a new staggering £5.136 billion TV rights deal effective from the 2016 season and Manchester United, the most successful premier league club, have just started enjoying a mouth watering ten year £750 million Adidas shirt sponsorship deal.

These are figures that we can not even start to dream about in Kenya, but they offer strong motivation that financial support can transform a country’s football world.

The scene in Kenya is made unattractive to sponsors by poor club management, corruption and recurrent infighting between Football Kenya Federation and KPL.

We need to emulate European football’s best practices and strengthen our administrative structures. Once we do this, we shall be in an even stronger position to bargain for much more lucrative sponsorship deals that will surely benefit everyone involved in Kenyan football.

To excel in African football, we must sort the mess in Kenyan football

The 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup championship came to a disappointing conclusion for Kenyan fans as Gor Mahia finally found the going tough against Tanzania’s Azam FC, whose defensive philosophy was proudly broadcast to everyone that cared to listen by club coach Stewart Hall.

In retrospect, however, Gor’s 0-2 defeat to the rich Tanzanian club should not be viewed as too much of a disappointment. Only 12 months ago, the Kenyan champions could not win a single match as they bowed out at the group stage of the same tournament held in Rwanda.

As the 2015 edition approached, it increasingly appeared that Gor Mahia might not even make it to Dar es Salaam. In typical Kenyan football management style, it emerged that an agreement between CECAFA and Football Kenya Federation – to the effect that FKF would cater for the transport costs of Kenya’s representatives – was just hot air.

Facing the danger of not making it to the tournament, a hastily organised fundraiser was held to raise funds for the club’s air tickets. The amount raised fell short of requirements and President Kenyatta had to step in to purchase air tickets for the team.

The first match Gor faced against Yanga had been largely called in Yanga’s favour but instead Gor put in a wonderful performance to beat the fancied Tanzania mainland representatives. A similar story unfolded against KMKM of Zanzibar and suddenly, Gor Mahia were elevated to favourites status.

The club lived up to expectations and made it to the finals where, unfortunately, an efficient Azam defence and a clinical forward line ended their dreams for a sixth CECAFA club title.

For a club that has lacked sponsors for close to two years, it is amazing that Gor Mahia are actually fighting for titles rather than battling against relegation. During a similar cash starved period a few years ago, it was normal to find Gor at the bottom of the league table and, in deed, boardroom intervention was required to keep the club in the top flight on more than one occasion.

The situation is a bit different now due to the funds available from Kenya Premier League sponsors Kenya Breweries and Multichoice. Additionally, the huge following that Gor enjoys in the country means they can count on some cash from gate collections.

Contrast this with the immense financial resources at Azam FC’s disposal and you begin to appreciate that Gor have done a really commendable job in Dar es Salaam. The most valuable defender of the tournament, Azam’s Serge Wawa, is from the Ivory Coast. Only a year ago, Wawa was in the El Merreikh (Sudan) team that won the 2014 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Rwanda.

Needless to say, El Merreikh is one of the richest clubs in Africa, able to compete for top African football talent with the other African football giants that include Al Ahly of Egypt and Esperence of Tunisia. That Azam can manage to secure the services of a top class defender signed to this class of football giants is a huge testament of the club’s readiness to compete at the highest level.

The world over, we are seeing the importance of money in building competitive and title winning teams. Modern football requires that teams should be well organised, professional and well funded. It is not accidental that the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich have become so dominant in their leagues and in Europe.

Gor Mahia, because of its pedigree, should by now have become a model in African Football. Historical achievements demand that Gor should be much superior to El Merreikh, Azam FC, Yanga, and so on. Lest we forget, it remains the only East African club to have won a continental championship.

What Kenyan football fans should be enjoying now is a Gor competing with and beating the likes of Esperence, Al Ahly, Zamalek, and the rest of the big clubs in Morocco, Algeria, Congo DR, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and South Africa.

All the problems that are preventing Gor Mahia from enjoying lucrative sponsorship deals must be identified and sorted out. The day that we have Gor, AFC Leopards, Tusker, et cetera, competing at the highest level in Africa is the day that Kenyan football will stand tall in African football. We all have a responsibility.  

Gor must bring on their very best against Azam in CECAFA Cup final

As they prepare to face home team Azam FC in the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup final later today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Gor Mahia must be ready to put on their very best display if they are to win a cup that has eluded them for 30 good years.

After starting their 2015 campaign brilliantly against Yanga and KMKM of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar respectively, the Kenyan champions put on unconvincing performances against Al Khartoum of Sudan and Djibouti’s Telekom in their group matches.

Gor Mahia continued this trend at the quarter final stage against South Sudan’s Malakia, whom they unconvincingly beat 2-1. In that match, leading striker Olunga barely made a mark, several players wasted clear scoring chances, and the defence even went to sleep at some point, allowing Malakia to score a totally undeserved goal.

By the semi-finals stage, Gor Mahia realised that Al Khartoum were a dangerous side, especially after the Sudanese representatives dismantled Rwandan champions APR 4-0.

Unlike the 1-1 draw registered against Al Khartoum at the group stages, Gor this time round put on perharps their best performance at the tournament, coming from a goal down to secure a convincing and thoroughly deserved 3-1 victory against the Sudanese, and with it, earned a mouth watering final date against Azam FC.

All of Gor’s departments functioned perfectly, with the defence completely shutting out a very prolific Al Khartoum side. In fact, Gor defended as a team, with lively striker Olunga, back at his best again, often joining in defence and helping launch several counter attacks.

The striker’s industry paid off as he scored one of Gor’s three goals, increasing his own tally to five and putting himself in prime position to win the golden boot.

Gor must play even better in the final to win their sixth CECAFA Kagame Cup. Not only are Azam FC enjoying home team status, they have also proven they are very solid defensively.

Upto the final stage, the team are yet to concede a goal in open play. The only three goals scored against them by Yanga came via a penalty shootout after a 0-0 deadlock in regulation time. The club’s coach Stuart Hall, who previously coached Kenya’s Sofapaka, has been singing praises about his team’s strong defence in the media.

Gor must recognise this and plot how to breach Azam’s defence even as they plan their own defence against a dangerous Azam forwardline spearheaded by Tanzania’s John Boko and Kipre Cheche of Cote d’ivore.

The Kenyan representatives have proven at this championships, as they have throughout the 2015 season, that they can match and beat any body, and they have highly talented individual players who can carry the team if necessary.

This is an opportunity that Gor must not let slip as they plot their way back to the great heights they once soared in African football.  

Gor need best shooting boots for CECAFA Cup semis

Gor Mahia sauntered into the semi finals of the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup without breaking too much sweat after beating Malakia of South Sudan 2-1.

The match was more remarkable for the high number of off-sides committed by Gor Mahia and the many scoring chances spurned by the Kenyan champions than anything else.

Perhaps due to the quality of opponent they were facing Gor Mahia appeared contented most of the time to play the game at unharried pace. They even had the generousity to gift Malakia a totally undeserved goal that gave some lustre to an otherwise largely colourless Malakia side. This tie had the markings of a 5-0 whitewash but for Gor's profligacy 

With so many games to play at short intervals, fatigue might be creeping in as the high standards exhibited by Gor at the start of their campaign, against Yanga and KMKM, were replaced in the match by an element of complacency that could have proved costly against a more quality side.

While it is understandable for Gor to have elected to slacken their playing pace against Malakia considering the club'spedigree and the task awaiting ahead, their wastefulness in front of their opponents’ goal is completely inexcusable, considering the extremely high level of efficiency displayed by their opponents for the forthcoming semi-final tie.

Although Gor and Al Khartoum played out a 1-1 draw during their group A match, the circumstances will be totally different in the semis, where a single mistake, like missing one scoring chance, might prove to be the difference between proceeding to the final and proceeding to the airport.

In the semi-finals, Gor must play with the same intensity and commitment as they did in the opening two matches if they  hope to eliminate Al Khartoum. The Kenyan club must have watched as the Sudnese representatives totally tore apart the highly rated APR from Rwanda to entertain any thought of another round of complacency.   

Khartoum National have made a big statement at the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup

When Kartoum National Club was paired against APR in the first quarter final of the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup being held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, all the money was on APR swiftly sending the newcomers of East African football back home.

Instead,Al Khartoum effectively ended the quarter final contest in the first half after they put three goals past the hapless Rwandese club without reply.

The team adopted a relaxed mode in the second half but still managed to add one more goal for a 4-0 whipping of an experienced APR side that looked totally lost. to put the tie in perspective, APR had won all three of their group matches, scoring five goals and conceding only one.

The Sudanese club only secured a spot at the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup after champions El Merreick requested to be excused from the tournament  so that they could concentrate on the CAF Champions League. The club from Khartoum has ended up becoming the highest scorers at this year's tournament so far.

After seeing off Djibouti's Telekom with a 5-0 hammering, Al Khartoum went on to dispatch Zanzibar's KMKM 2-1 before holding fancied Gor Mahia of Kenya 1-1 in a match they could easily have won. The club lost narrowly against Yanga, conceding 0-1 in their final group match. The club's four goals against APR have increased their tally to 12 scored against 3 conceded.

Not only is the club clinical in front of goal, they also play neat, passing and tactical football. Yet this is their first ever appearence at the East and Central African club championships. What might be the secret to the success being enjoyed by the club in Tanzania?

For one, Sudanese clubs are reputed to be some of the wealthiest on the African continent. So money is definitely a factor. But how you spend money when you have it is also crucial. And here the club seems to be doing really well.

The composition of the team has looked solid right from goal to attack, meaning they have recruited quite well. Amongst the squad's foreign players is Kenya's Anthony 'Teddy' Okumu, who has performed quite well in his midfield position so far.

To me, the most brilliant move by the Sudanese club has been hiring Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah, who, lest we forget, took Ghana to the 2014 World Cup and missed the second round by a whisker in a group of death that included World Cup Champions Germany, USA and Portugal.

This is one vastly experienced and skillful coach you do not want to be playing against, and Al Khartoum must be feeling extremely special with the coach in their ranks. When asked about the secret of defeating APR, coach Appiah said that he had asked his charges to utilise the chances they got and to stop APR from playing - and they did exactly that.

Clearly, the story of Khartoum's East African achievements is just starting being told and whoever meets the Sudanese team in the semi-finals had better watch out carefully.  

Where have quality African strikers gone?

Gor against Djibuouti Telekom and Yanga versus Al Khartoum brought the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2015 group stages to conclusion, with Gor (on 10 points) finishing top of group A ahead of Yanga (nine).

One common characteric of the two matches was the wastefulness of Gor's and Yanga's strikers in front of goal. Although Gor beat Telekom 3-1, the score would have been higher with greater efficiency in finishing.

The same was the case with Yanga, who could only manage a 1-0 scoreline against Al Khartoum after the club's forwards squandered many scoring chances.

These performances only served to emphasize one important fact: quality strikers are in deed very valuable persons in the beautiful game. In Africa, especially, they have become very rare species.

This same continent has given to the football world the likes of Zambia's Kalusha Bwalia, Cameroon's Roger Millar and Samuel Etoo, Nigeria's Rashidi Yekini, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha and Daniel Amokachi, Egypt's Hossam Hassan, Ghana's Abedi Pele and Tony Yeboah, Liberia's George Weah, Morocco's Mustapha Hadji, Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba, Zimbabwe's Peter Ndlovu, and many others.

The most valued African players in European leagues recently have been midfielders - Yaya Toure, Cheick Tiote, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel...what happened to the African striker species?

2018 World Cup preliminary draw kind to Kenya

Harambee stars got what are clearly favourable pairings in the preliminary stages of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in a draw conducted by FIFA in Moscow on 25th July.

Kenya will face Mauritius away in the first leg of the first round qualifier on 5th October before the return leg in Nairobi on 13th October.

Should Kenya make it past the Indian Ocean islanders, Then Cape Verde awaits in the second round preliminary qualifiers to be played between 9th and 19th November.

Mauritius has never posed Kenya any footballing problems and the last time Kenya met Cape Verde in the 2004 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, we won home and away. Cape Verde was then a baby and whipping boy of African football but, after putting together an incredible programme of football development, have emerged as a recognised force on the continent.

Cape Verde made a big statement in African football by not only qualifying for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 2013 but putting together a fairy tale run in the finals as well. After playing brilliantly to reach the quarter finals of the tournament the Atlantic Ocean islanders were cruelly eliminated by Ghana.

The tiny nation out played Ghana for long periods before a dubious penalty and a late break away run by Mubarak Wakaso handed the West African heavy weights an undeserved victory to advance to the semi finals.

The Cape Verdians returned stronger, topping their 2015 Afcon qualifiers group that included Zambia, Mozambique and Niger. The team bowed out of the finals held in Equatorial Guinea at the group stages after 1-1, 0-0, 0-0 draws against Tunisia, Congo D.R. and Zambia respectively.

Clearly, therefore, while Kenya can hope for an easy outing against Mauritius, the Cape Verdian side we will face this time round  if we progress will be far much superior than the one we beat home and away in 2004.

Still, compared to what the draw threw in the way of other teams, Kenya should be glad. The winner of the Somalia/Niger tie, for instance, will come before the might of Cameroon's Indomitable Lions, and whoever wins between South Sudan and Mauritania will have to go past Tunisia to make the group stages. Algeria lies in wait for Tanzania or Malawi and Liberia or Guinea Bissau will come face to face with current African Champions Ivory Coast.

It is in the face of such pairings that I argue Kenya are lucky but this should not mean resting on our laurels and waiting to obliterate Mauritius while counting on history against Cape Verde. Surprises are becoming common place in African football and the painful elimination of Kenya by Lesotho in the preliminary rounds of the 2015 Afcon qualifiers are still fresh in every one's mind.

Full African zone preliminary rounds draw (Courtesy of BBC Sport)

Round one

Two-legged ties, played 5 October and 13 October.

Somalia v Niger, South Sudan v Mauritania, Gambia v Namibia, Sao Tome e Principe v Ethiopia, Chad v Sierra Leone, Comoros v Lesotho, Djibouti v Swaziland, Eritrea v Botswana, Seychelles v Burundi, Liberia v Guinea-Bissau, Central African Republic v Madagascar, Mauritius v Kenya, Tanzania v Malawi

Round two

Two-legged ties, played 9 November and 17 November.

Somalia/Niger v Cameroon, South Sudan/Mauritania v Tunisia, Gambia/Namibia v Guinea, Sao Tome e Principe/Ethiopia v Congo, Chad/Sierra Leone v Egypt, Comoros/Lesotho v Ghana, Djibouti/Swaziland v Nigeria, Eritrea/Botswana v Mali, Seychelles/Burundi v Congo DR, Liberia/Guinea-Bissau v Ivory Coast, Central African Republic/Madagascar v Senegal, Mauritius/Kenya v Cape Verde, Tanzania/Malawi v Algeria, Sudan v Zambia, Libya v Rwanda, Morocco v Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique v Gabon, Benin v Burkina Faso, Togo v Uganda, Angola v South Africa

The 20 winners from the second round will go into a third round comprising five groups of four. The winners of each group qualify for the World Cup.

Tusker continues scoring spree, Gor slowed down in Dar

Tusker continued their stupendous form in Machakos, where they hit hapless Thika United 4-0, taking their goal tally in the last three matches to 14 scored and one conceded.

Incredibly, striker Jesse Were scored his third consecutive hat-trick, meaning that the on-fire striker has contributed nine of Tusker's last 14 goals.

The lowly placing of the team during the first leg of the league is now a distant memory, with the Ruaraka based club now sitting snugly in third place.

Second placed Ulinzi must surely be looking over their shoulders now as the resurgent beer men plot to throw a spanner in the works of the battle for premier league honours.

This is clearly a new Tusker we are watching and their recent superlative performances will only serve to motivate them some more. The premiership championship might have gotten out of hand with Gor Mahia so far in front, but the club will surely have a big say regarding who finishes in the runners up position.

If striker Were is to be believed, the secret to the club's resurgence is simple - work hard and rest enough: "hard work and enough rest is working for us. I'm part of the future of Kenyan football and so is (Gor Mahia striker) Michael Olunga who is doing a great job in Tanzania...." the striker told Daily Nation after the match.

Meanwhile, in Dar es Salaam, Gor Mahia's bright start to the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup was blighted by a tricky Al Kartoum side that missed several chances to become the first team to end the Kenyan champions' unbeaten run.

The club appeared restless against the Sudanese side, with custodian Boniface Oluoch's goalkeeping blunder in the 10th minute leading directly to Al Khartoum's goal.

Although Gor Mahia rallied to equalise in the 43rd minute through veteran midfielder Eric Ochieng, the Tusker Premier League defending champions failed to put on a commanding display like they did against Tanzania's Yanga FC and KMKM of Zanzibar respectively.

Striker Michael Olunga, who has attracted a lot of attention both on and off the pitch, was uncharacteristically wasteful and was also the target of a series of fouls from Al Khartoum defenders keen to tame him.

This was also the first match that Gor were playing in the sweltering heat of Dar es Salaam's midday and the searing temperatures seemed to slow down most of Gor Mahia's players. When they finally improved play later in the second half of the match, it proved inadequate to force a third group win and the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

As the tournament rolls on, Gor Mahia will attract much more attention from opposing teams and coach Frank Nuttal must refresh his bag of tricks as each of the club's next matches is going to present its own unique challenges. But who said becoming champions is a walk in the park?

Gor and Olunga going places

Gor Mahia continued their unbeaten run by convincingly  beating KMKM of Zanzibar 3-1 in the ongoing CECAFA Kagame Club Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Kenyan champions' second win in a row in the tournament's group A means the club now has six points and is virtually assured of a place in the quarterfinals.

The club is really in good form, such that neither absence of players nor adjustments to team's first eleven appears to be affecting the team's rhythm of play. This was evidently clear throughout the KMKM match as all departments of the team functioned neatly to ensure that Gor's excellent performance continued to roll on.

I was particularly impressed by the club's forward line, with both Meddie Kagere and Michael Olunga turning in exceptional performances. Olunga especially continued to amaze me with his confidence and skill around the 18-yard box. I am convinced that his performances are no fluke and that he will soon be joining the list of Kenya's greatest strikers. 

The 21 year old university student is truly a gifted striker and he proved this with a quality headed goal against KMKM, beautiful turns inside the box, a powerful left foot, and skillful runs with the ball. In the same match, he also proved that he can provide quality assists, as his pass led to Gor's opening goal through Meddie Kagere. 

I was also amazed to see him throwing a ball from Gor's portion of the pitch, proving that he can also carry out defensive duties for his team when necessary. That is what you call a great all-round striker. I am sure his failed trials in South Africa will soon be forgotten as he lands an even bigger deal somewhere in Europe.

For now, the striker is part of a well oiled Gor Mahia juggernaut that is surely looking good to win a cup that has eluded them for three good decades.

  

What has led to Tusker FC's current devastating form?

After tearing Chemelil Sugar apart with a 5-1 thumping, Tusker were at their scoring best again, inflicting one of the worst defeats on league contenders Sofapaka with a 5-0 thrashing.

Not only did Tusker continue their impressive scoring record in the second leg of the Tusker Premier League, the club's leading striker Jesse Were helped himself to the second consecutive hat trick to bring his total tally in the league to 16.

Tusker struggled during the first leg of the league, with the club's results including a 2-2 draw against Muhoroni Youth, a 1-0 defeat to Bandari, a 1-1 stalemate against Mathare United, a 1-0 beating from KCB, a 1-2 loss to Sofapaka, and of course, the 1-0 defeat they suffered against league leaders Gor Mahia in their final match of the first leg.

However, during the same period, the club registered impressive wins (3-1 away to western Stima, 3-0 away to Nakuru All Stars, and 2-0 against Sony Sugar) to indicate they had great attacking potential.

This has come out clearly in the second leg, with the other results during the period being a 3-0 win against Nakuru All Stars and a hard fought 1-1 draw against a rejunenated Ulinzi Stars. The club's goal tally is now only bettered by that of Gor Mahia.

The rebuilding done by Coach Francis Kimanzi appears to be finally bearing fruit and if the club continues in the same path, do not bet against them challenging strongly for the title next season.

Coach Kimanzi strongly believes in coach-player loyalty, a fact well proven during his stints as Harambee Stars and Mathare United Coach. A careful look at players currently playing for him will reveal a collection of faces that featured for him at Mathare United and Sofapaka.

The players include goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng, defenders James Situma, Lloyd Wahome, Eugine Asike and Aboud Omar, midfielders Humphrey Mieno and Osborne Monday, as well as striker Kevin Kimani. Current league top scorer Jesse Were also previously played for Mathare United.

Kimanzi's strong belief in defending players' rights previously got him into serious trouble with Kenyan football administrators, contributing to his sacking during his first  stint as Harambee Stars coach. Kimanzi is a very good coach tactically but I believe that this strong player-coach bond is also contributing to the current good form of Tusker FC.

Gor start CECAFA Club Cup campaign in style

Gor Mahia extended their unbeaten run into the Kagame CECAFA Club Cup championship, beating Tanzania’s powerhouse club Yanga FC 2-1 in convincing fashion at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Indeed, the margin could have been bigger with better finishing and some luck. Striker Michael Olunga was lively as ever and apart from the one goal he scored, hit the woodwork and was denied a genuine penalty shout. Meddy Kagere's performance in the match was a bit subdued but he missed a clear chance as well, as did Khalid Aucho, whose well weighted  shot glanced the upright on its way out.

Gor’s performance in midfield was excellent too, despite the absence of club captain Collins “Gatusso” Okoth through injury and Ali Abondo. The team seemed technically superior and fitter than their opponents for large parts of play, before allowing Yanga to dominate play in the final parts of the game.

Gor’s superiority was underlined by the fact that home team Yanga resorted to numerous fouls to break their Kenyan opponents’ play, paying dearly with the dismissal of Zambia winger Donald Ngoma in the 23rd minute after retaliation against Haron Shakava.

Yanga’s home team status was largely nullified by the huge presence of Simba SC fans, who joined a sizable contingent of Gor Mahia fans, who included opposition leader Raila Odinga, in chanting ‘Gor Biro’ throughout the match. The two clubs’ sets of fans have a passionate disliking for each other and readily join supporters of any team playing against either of the clubs.

With the assured display against the Tanzania league champions, Gor have proved that their current dominance of Kenyan football is no accident and that they will be a force to reckon with at this year's CECAFA Club Cup championships. They might yet win that elusive sixth CECAFA Club Cup after all. 

European football giants coming to Nairobi?

Arsenal's Theo Walcott in Singapore

Arsenal's Mezut Ozil in Singapore 

In what reads like an April fools story, Kenya’s media is reporting of the government's plan to aim for a bite of the cherry that is European clubs pre-season tours.

According to a story in the Daily Nation of July 16, “the government is targeting English Premier League sides to compete at the inaugural Magic Cup tournament in Nairobi next year”. Can you believe it?

If this is true, then prepare to see the stars of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and the likes, right here in Nairobi, live! We are talking about watching Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo, Rooney, Aguero, Sanchez, Diego Costa...in action at Kasarani!

This revelation is attributed to Sports Kenya PRO (whatever that is) Rakki Asman, who spoke of plans to partner with “a local consortium” to source for the funds needed to bring the European football giants to Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani in June 2016.

This is all designed, according to the story, to give local fans an opportunity to watch their super heroes live right here in Nairobi, and also to market Kenya.

The Daily Nation story adds that already, Icon Sports Marketing and FIFA Match Agency Sports Global Management (SGM) have been selected to help the government realise this dream.

I will say no more but sit, and wait for June 2016.