Lovers of the game will agree with me that what the recently reappointed Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi is doing is what is done globally in the soccer world, fielding a young team. Kimanzi fielded a less experienced team against stronger opponents, Uganda Cranes in an international friendly played at Kasarani Stadium and registered 1-1 draw.
Dubbed ‘Migingo derby’, Uganda actually did Kenya a favour by accepting to play a lower ranked team like Harambee Stars. The match was debut for six players donning national jersey for the first time. In places where soccer is more advanced like Europe, mostly two major teams in the league feed national team and win lucrative trophies.
When Germany won world 2014, their team was majorly fed by Bayern and Borrussia Dotmund, when Spain won in 2010 it was majorly Barcelona and Real Madrid. Only England is special case where competition runs across all the league teams but it still fields on of the youngest teams in the world.
Kimanzi fielding a youthful side is an indicator that he is building a new team, giving young players an opportunity to perform and advanced their careers. League teams therefore need to up their class to feed the national team with extra ordinary talents, instead not even Tusker Fc is nearing the class of Gor Mahia.
Gor Mahia forward Kenneth Mugune who leveled for Kenya extended his top notch class from the club to the national team. Kimanzi made made changes in the midfield when he introduced Whyvonne Isuza and withdrew Collince Agade. Muguna equalized in the 51st minute when he utilized across from china based Ayub Timbe.
it however remains a challenge to the Federation of Kenyan Football (FKF) to lure the fans back to the field. The stadium was last field to the brim when Harambee Stars played against Ethiopia in the qualifiers ahead of 2019 AFCON games in Ethiopia. FKF through it’s President Nick Mwendwa must be louded for a job averagely done after the poor performance in the continental stage in Egypt.
