Mwendwa and Okumbi defend their decisions
New FKF chair Nick Mwendwa and new Harambee stars coach Stan Okumbi have both come under fire for the lackadaisical display that saw Kenya lose to Guinea Bissau, a team that is ranked over 40 places below Kenya in the FIFA ranking.
Mwendwa first came under fire for hiring Stan Okumbi, a person who has never achieved anything worthwhile as a coach. Then for sending 18 officials and only 12 local players to Guinea Bissau. While all these joyriders traveled, Mwendwa left experienced players like Francis Kahata, Harun Shakava and Collin Okoth. Fans who thought change was coming to Kenya football were soon disappointed at the realization that things remain the same.
Then on Wednesday, Okumbi fielded Kariobangi Sharks players Pattillah Omoto in the starting line-up and Ovella Ochieng as a sub. Neither player has done anything worth a place in the starting line-up. He left experienced players like Anthony Akumu on the bench and Collins Okoth was left at home. Kariobangi Sharks is the team owned by Mwendwa. Fans soon realized why Okumbi was hired. The play of both players sub par.
Mwendwa defended the decisions by saying that Kenya must invest in the youth.
“If we do not give young players a chance then we have no future in football” said Mwendwa upon returning to Nairobi.
Okumbi also came under fire for fielding Musa Mohamed at fullback yet he typically plays in central defence as well as fielding James Situma at left back. Situma typically plays on the right and Kenya had two good left backs on the bench: Omar Mbongi and Dennis Odhiambo. Musa Mohamed has been faulted for the goal scored by the Islanders. Okumbi defended himself by saying those players are good enough to play those positions.
“Musa Mohamed used to play full back at Gor Mahia, while James Situma is a utility player who can play any position in defence” said Okumbi.
Both Okumbi and Mwendwa hinted that some players who were dropped will be recalled.
Stars face a tall order. They not only have to beat Guinea Bissau on Sunday, but must win all their remaining matches to stand any chance. They are currently at the bottom of the standings.
Young players should gain experience through under 21 and 23 tournaments as well as cecafa senior and NOT AFCON or World Cup qualifications. Only seasoned players should play when it comes to these two competitions; No experiments!
If young talents must be given a chance, must they hail from mwendwa’s kariobangi sharks? Don’t we have regional tournaments to hunt for and nurture such talents? The forest is the same though the monkeys changed. Hopelessness is when you ply your trade as a harambee stars player under okumbi and mwendwa. Fortunately, kenyans will forget and life will move on. What were these 18 officials to do in guinea; watch the experimentation of ovellas and omotos? My tears are flowing inwards at the waste of our talents. Mwendwa rewarded his political concubines by sponsoring a trip to guinea, just like our mca’s.
Yes papa In go tell them . Did you see the naive defense Mwendwa put up? If they don’t intend to win then why not just sit back and wait for the 2022 world cup qualifiers?