Philemon and Kahata in action as Kenya tie Ethiopia
Kenya and Ethiopia settled for a scoreless draw in the 2019 Africa Nations cup qualifier in Addis Ababa on Wednesday. The match which was played before a raucous capacity crowd ended 0-0 with both teams giving a good account of themselves. In action were two Gor Mahia players, Philemon Otieno “Mbish” and Francis Kahata. Two former Kogalo players featured : Musa Mohamed and Michael Olunga.
Additional reporting from futaa.com
Harambee Stars settled for a hard-fought point in a barren draw against neighbors Ethiopia as they maintain their top spot on four points in an African Cup of Nations qualifier clash staged at the Bahir Dar Stadium, Ethiopia on Wednesday 10th October.
Opening exchanges
The 43rd ever meeting between the two sides started with Ethiopia seeking an early lead as they applied pressure in the opening minutes and got a corner as early as the first minute but could make the set-piece count. Harambee Stars were looking to sit back and soak up the pressure, looking to force a mistake from the neighbors.
Olunga effort
Despite the early Ethiopia pressure, Harambee Stars were the first to have an effort on target in the 20th minute when Eric Johanna threaded a neat through ball to Michael Olunga but the difficult angle brought out a tame effort from the Kashiwa Reysol talisman that was easily gathered by the keeper.
Johanna chance
Kenya were on in it again five minutes later when Wanyama found Eric Johana in acres of space but the former Mathare United midfielder’s effort veered off the target. The first real opening for Ethiopia came in the 28th minute when Kastro Amaye got past Brian Mandela but he couldn’t guide his shot on target.
Yellow cards
Experienced referee, Bakary Gassama visited his pocked in the 36th minute to book Michael Olunga who talked himself to a yellow card. Philemon Otieno was next on the book for a hospital tackle on Gathouch Panom. Olunga thought he had opened the scoring in the 44th minute but his goal was ruled out for offside. Abero Reshad was booked at the stroke of half-time after diving under the challenge of Philemon Otieno.
Duo substitution
With Migne aiming to exert some dominance in the midfield, introduced Las Palmas II midfielder Ismael Gonzalez for Eric Johanna. Aboud Omar who was stamped on the toe by Dawa Hotessa in the first half couldn’t shake off his injury as he was taken off in the 55th minute and on came Eric Marcelo Ouma.
Bekele chance
Bekele Godo brought down a long pass with a deft touch but he could do justice to his control as his effort beat Matasi in goal but found the upright in the 66th minute. Ethiopia were on the ascendancy after the hour mark and missed two good chances to grab the lead.
Late pressure
Sebastien Migne exhausted his substitutions in the 73rd minute when he introduced Paul Were for the exasperated Francis Kahata. Ethiopia were creating chance after chance in the final 15 minutes and had the ball at the back of the net when Dawa Hotessa tapped in from close range but the linesman flag was up. Harambee Stars withered the late storm by Ethiopia to settle for a draw and have all to do on Sunday 14th October when Ethiopia travel to Kenya for the return match.
Harambee Stars Starting XI: Patrick Matasi (GK), Philemon Otieno, Musa Mohammed, Brian Mandela, Abud Omar, Victor Wanyama (Cpt), Dennis Odhiambo, Francis Kahata, Eric Johanna, Ochieng Ovella, Michael Olunga.
Subs: Farouk Shikhalo (GK), Piston Mutamba, Eric Ouma, Johanna Omollo, David Ochieng, Ismail Gonzalez.
Ethiopia Starting XI: Samson Asefa (GK), Abdulkerim Adem, Ahmed Reshad, Anteneh Tesfaye, Aschalew Tamene, Beneyam Demte, Dukele Hotessa, Kadebe Gibeto, Mesfen Bolado, Bekele Godo, Gathuoch Panom.
Subs: Merid Jimma (GK), Kastro Amaye, Shanko Balcha, Gugesa Besha, Omod Okwury, Mujib Kassim, Kenean Maleko, Henok Gebra, Amesalu Telahune, Amanuel Gamo, Adis Giday, Abel Tilahun.
Yes we are proud of our two players but can the EC be able to keep them when suitors come calling?
Phillemon and Kahata were a big let down. No wonder Gor is losing matches if by any chance these two were an indicator of Gor fitness levels. Harambee stars are an eyesore to watch. Wanyama is a highly overrated player. The guy obviously values his place in Tottenham n cannot risk injuries playin in Africa. Drop him.
Harambee stars luck ball awareness, no quality ball control, bogus aimless passess…. why exactly is this coach asking to be paid?
Even if this team qualifies it’s obvious they will be there just to make the numbers. Players displayed luck of ambition and cowardice. Were was active but he was his usual self…playing to satisfy himself.
Ati the two were a big let down? I think the biggest let down is this Wanyama guy, his presence was never felt at all, never made a difference, in my opinion he has no significance in the current HS framework.
At Tottenham Wanyama earns a cool 30 million exclusive of winning bonuses while in Kenya he is paid a meagre 3k allowance. Why take the risk? Play safe, avoid injury and maintain his place at Spurs
I think Harambee Stars were splendid save for the few scoring chances we lost especially the Eric Johanna free scoring opportunity from an Olunga assist which he placed wide. This qualification games are usually dicey and very tactical much like Caf round robin knock outs to earn group stage qualification. You do what you need to earn a point away and again strategize to win at home while defending hard like we did against Ghana. Once we qualify for the Biennial Championship then Coach Migne can relax and polish the team to display beautiful world class football that will earn Kenya admiration across the continent. No one remembers teams knocked out in qualification stages because they were playing fancy football like Ethiopia. Congrats Coach Migne for a vital away point…
COACH MIGNE’S COMMENTS
The Harambee Stars could have gotten a result in Ethiopia despite the defensive approach. Forward Michael Olunga, Ovella Ochieng and substitute Paul Were each came close in the match and from such flashes Coach Migne believes he is on the road to making Kenya play at the top level.
‘’We are a young team and maybe apart from Victor (Wanyama) we don’t have many players with big experience. But we are on the way to the high level and I am proud of my players. I told them before the game that the high level is about confirming the result. Not one game you play good and the other bad,” concluded Migne.
With Sierra Leone currently out of the picture, Kenya stands a realistic chance of qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with a win over Ethiopia next Sunday. Stars currently lead Group F with 4 points followed by Ghana on 3. The Ghana-Sierra Leone match scheduled for Wednesday 10 did not go on as planned.
Wanyama is a let down..
Kenya’s biggest problem in soccer is Character. Ever since the Gor 85-87 soujourn, Kenya players have displayed child-like character on the pitch. Logarusic once made a statement of players who cannot think and run at the same time. How can Wanyama command leadership when his passes are as aimless as for a primary school kid. Akumu could do a much better job.
Recent players who have continously shown a winning mentality were Dennis Oliech et Jeese Were.
FKF on the other hand should pull Kenya out of this tournament if the Govt cannot give funds. Why should Kenyan players be subjected to such treatment? And why are these players so desperate to continuously undergo such treatment. The reason why a whole team can display such fatigue is an indicator that they were not sleeping well or probably not eating well too. Zambia paid a very high price of mismanaging their team. FKF should not expose Kenyan players to danger.
FKF should have the guts to put pressure on the govt by pulling out. Donning a shirt for the national team has a meaning!! Winning the the basketball or football league in the U.S is an automatic meet the president guarantee. And this is a powerful presidency! Donald Trump even went as far as issuing threats against any country that voted against the US-Canada world cup bid. This is a president considered to be the most aloof but value of soccer does not escape him.
On the other hand FKF should also tell us how rugby manages a 15 aside and 7 a side without any funding hitches. I don’t even know who the rugby chairman is yet these FKF, Gor EC types (and recently the Gor coach) are always on TV seeking glory.
By Zachary Oguda | Thu 11 Oct, 2018 15:26
Gor Mahia custodian Boniface Oluoch has extended his stay with the reigning Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions for a further three years as has been confirmed by the club’s CEO Lodvick Aduda.
Oluoch’s stay at the club was to come to an end in January and according to Aduda this was a major move by the club in tying down one of the loyal and best servants of the team. The news comes after the confirmation that the 18 time KPL champions have resigned midfielder Kenneth Muguna as well as bringing on board former Tusker defender Shafiq Batambuze in preparations for the coming season.
Also Read: AFCON Q : Gor Mahia duo off to Mali as Libya take on Nigeria
Renewed
“We have renewed Oluoch’s contract for another three years. His last contract was to end in January 2019 and this is a good move since he has been one of our best servant in recent years,” Aduda told Soka.
Oluoch joined Gor Mahia at the start of the 2015 season from rivals Tusker FC and has since won the KPL title three times since his arrival.
Also Read: Focus on attack as Nzoia starts 2019 plans
Competition
Oluoch despite being the undisputed number one goalkeeper for the club has seen his competitors Shaban Odhoji and Fredrick Odhiambo give him a run for his money in the just concluded season with the three used periodically in a campaign that saw K’Ogallo reach new heights with their continental exploits.
The keeper has also seen his spot in the national team taken up by Tusker’s Patrick Matasi who has excelled after injury kept Oluoch out of contention for the recent assignments against Ghana and Ethiopia.
Where are the breaking news people of jakoyo et al fame who said Oluoch is to be dropped? Others are also magically bringing Aucho who is just 1 month into signing a new contract with Churchill Brothers Club of India…
Breaking news as used in this forum implies rumours and not news as such. Chunywa obed gi kwe (let our hearts be at peace).
Trouble brewing in Leopards’ den
By Rodgers Eshitemi: Thursday, October 11th 2018 at 00:00 GMT +3 | Football
Matthew Ottomax [www.sportpicha.co.ke/Stafford Ondego]
Trouble is brewing in AFC Leopards’ den after goalkeeper trainer Matthew Owino Ottamax labelled to a section of the players as ‘cartels’ and ‘extortionists’.
In a stern long post on his Facebook account, the former Kenyan international claimed a group of an unidentified players has been bullying young players and holding the club at ransom as well as deciding when to win and lose matches.
This comes barely two weeks after Argentine coach Rodolfo Zapata parted ways with the SportPesa Premier League side on a mutual consent following a string of poor results.
Leopards, who were strongly in contention for a top three finish in the just concluded season, finished a distant seventh position after losing their last four league matches. Ingwe also surrendered their FKF Shield title after falling 1-0 to Sofapaka in the semi finals.
“We will blame the Executive Office, we will blame the Coaching Staff and to some extent we will blame the Medical Staff or even the back room support staff,” read Ottamax’s post.
“What we actually don’t see are the real culprits – the cancerous type of players who slowly eat up to the good bits within the playing unit. This is a bold statement from me because I know it will win me more dislikes than likes from the suspects, but just like my WhatsApp motto goes. This is Ottamax…It’s Like I Care! As a player in yesteryears, I served my time wholeheartedly for my respective clubs!”
Ottamax, who featured for both AFC and their rivals Gor Mahia during his hey days continued: “AFC Leopards Soccer Club is one of the best facilitated football teams as far as players’ welfare is concerned, and this leaves you wondering what could be the problem when it comes to grinding results!
“Cartels !!! I fear for the growth of Kenyan Football. We are breeding cartels in the name of players! These are not footballers but Kamjesh or plainly call them extortionist. The ones who will decide when a coach should go, always coaching their coaches, coming for training when they want, want to run the office, bully hard working new young players.”
“To me you are a terrorists! Always holding the entire community and football lovers to ransom! Choosing when to win, or lose .”
Although the club’s Secretary General Oscar Igaida distanced himself from the wild allegations, he denied reports that they have sacked their entire technical bench and released five key players. “Those are Ottamax’s personal opinion and we have to respect them. I can neither condemn nor support them. We will meet the technical bench soon.”
AFC Leopards set to drop 11
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 2018
AFC Leopards organizing secretary Timothy Lilumbi (left), secretary general Oscar Igaida and the treasurer Oliver Imbenzi address journalists at the club’s offices in Nairobi on October 12, 2018. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO |
AFC Leopards organizing secretary Timothy Lilumbi (left), secretary general Oscar Igaida and the treasurer Oliver Imbenzi address journalists at the club’s offices in Nairobi on October 12, 2018.
By JOHN ASHIHUNDU
More by this Author
AFC Leopards will drop eleven players from the current squad and recruit five ahead of the new season scheduled to kick off on December 8, 2018.
This is a repeat of happenings at the club last season when they parted ways with 11 and signed 10 new ones.
Club Secretary, Oscar Igaida also confirmed that the executive is in the process of hiring a new coach to replace Rodolfo Zapata who left last month.
“We shall be releasing some players on recommendation from our technical bench. Those who performed will remain as we embark on the plan to trim the squad from 31 to 25,” he said.
Zapata advised Leopards to sign five quality players who should be good enough to start matches for the team to avoid a situation where some players only make five appearances per season and hang on to their young players.
Igaida also revealed that Victor Bwibo has replaced Jacob Abisai as the new Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the club.
“Being a financial planner, we expect him to market the club internationally,” said Igaida.
AFC Leopards who started the league on a high note struggled towards the end failing to win any silverware after playing most matches without eight key players. Igaida thanked the players, branch members and supporters for supporting with the team through their various challenges.
AFC Leopards are training to face Ulinzi Stars at Kasarani on October 20 for the third playoff match of the SportPesa Shield. Sofapaka beat Leopards 1-0 in the semis to sail into the final where they will face Kariobangi Sharks.
Igaida said the team will break after the match for two weeks before resuming training on November 5. There is also a scheduled retreat for the team where all issues will be sorted out.
The technical bench under Tom Juma as the acting coach remains intact. Juma is assisted by team manager Gilbert Selebwa, goalkeeper trainer Mathew “Ottamax” Owino and team doctor Patrick Ngusale.
Abandu biro hangaika nyaka chieng 50 years without winning Kenyan Premier League. You cant overhaul the playing unit and TB head coach every end and mid season then talk of winning any league. Consistency is the number one ingredient for soccer success…