Harambee Stars vs. Super Eagles; it’s not all doom

By Victor Karuga

When the Harambee Stars play the Super Eagles in Calabar Nigeria on March 23rd, there will be a handful of Kenyan fans cheering them on red dots in a sea of green and white; a roaring vuvuzelas blowing expectantly in a sea of green, ready to buoy their team.

Most reputable pundits agree that the match will be largely one-sided in Nigeria’s favour…a handful because most Kenyan soccer fans find the tickets costs rather prohibitive, leave alone international travel, but mostly because the Kenyan football fan cuts a frustrated figure, supporting a side that last qualified for a major tournament in 2004 is not inspiring stuff.

With a Federation that rivals Roman Abramovich in managerial turnover, and financial scandals that ensure there is always a steady flow of inefficient populists playing a tug of war with the federation of the day, it is little wonder that the national women’s cricket team, in existence for less than 10 years, has more continental titles than the Stars have since their inception.

Currently placed 127th in the world football rankings, the road to Rio looks bumpy and long; a situation compounded by the fact that the Stars have collected only a point from their two group matches, a dour goalless draw to Malawi at home, and a 1-0 loss to Namibia in Windhoek, and given Stars away record, not a lot of fans are upbeat about next week’s encounter.

Nobody feels the effects of the performance of Kenyan soccer executives, or lack of it, more than the footballers. In 2009, McDonald Mariga, one of Kenya’s best soccer exports, failed to get a British work permit to turn out for Manchester City due to our country’s 98th place ranking. European Premier League selects from the top 70 in the world and although the subsequent transfer to Italy’s International won him that years Champions League, his colleagues have not been as lucky, and considering the reason for such a lackluster, rating is down to the financial greed of the federation, which often sends ill-prepared teams at the thought of cash incentives to play well-prepared teams, it is imperative that only well-prepared teams are sent out for friendlies.

It is not all gloom and doom though, for the national team now has a new crop of young, talented players notably Celtics Victor Wanyama, David Gateri who plies his trade in PSL, and a host of other exciting local players. A new coach has also been selected, Adel Amrouche, who previously handled Burundi. Given the state of Kenyan football, one can only hope that new brooms sweep clean, and that during the after match press conference come 24th March, Harambee Stars will not be asking for a runoff.

First published in March 2013.