Shakava and Abondo in starting line-up as Kenya is eliminated
Gor Mahia midfielder Ali Abondo was in the starting line-up for the first time ever at national team level as was defender Haron Shakava. However neither was able to propel Harambee stars past the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia as Kenya were held to a scoreless draw and thus eliminated once again from the CHAN qualifiers.
Other Gor Mahia players in action were Boniface Oluoch, Musa Mohamed, Collins Okoth “Gattuso” who was captain and Michael Olunga who was under immense pressure to reproduce the form he showed against Chemelil as Kenya needed to score three clear goals and concede none.
Kenya dominated but were unable to break through. Ali Abondo’s well taken free-kick in the first half almost gave Kenya the lead. Ethiopia relied mainly on counter attacks.
Oluoch who had a much better game than he had against Congo, also made a good save when Ramkel Lok had evaded the Kenya defence leaving him one on one with Oluoch. In the 25th minute he was forced into another save when Ephrem Ashamo attempted a long range shot.
Ethiopia’s best chance came in the waning moments: Assefa Behaillu of Ethiopia who was one on one with Boniface Oluoch but shot wide.
Kenya can blame their inability to concert chances, especially penalties. As was the case in Addis Ababa, Kenya missed a penalty again. This time it was Ali Abondo who was unlucky from the penalty spot. Had Kenya scored both their penalties, they would have sailed through in away goals rule.
Coach Bobby Williamson rued Kenya’s inability to score from the penalty spot.
“It is unfortunate that we lost two penalties which if we scored could have taken us to the penalty shots session against our opponents. I talked to Ali Abondo and Denis Odhiambo on penalty tricks before the match but Abondo could not convert this yet, Bobby said.
Kenya has never qualified for the CHAN. Previously they were eliminated by Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda.
Starting XI : 1.Boniface Oluoch(GK), 5.Edwin Wafula, 15.Musa Mohammed, 6.Haroun Shakava, 3.Dennis Odhiambo, 13.Collins Okoth(C), 2.Humphrey Mieno, 7.Ali Abondo, 10.Kevin Kimani, 11.Jesse Were, 14.Michael Olunga
Subs: 18.Wycliffe Kasaya (GK), 17.Brian Birgen, 4.Jackson Saleh, 12.Noah Wafula, 16.Bernard Mang’oli, 9.Danson Kago, 8.Eric Johanna
Not the worst showing by Kenya but…
analysis here;
https://kpltactics.wordpress.com/2015/07/04/kenya-0-0-ethiopia-intent-but-lack-of-innovation/
Poor tactics by bobby as usual he has no clue
Nilisema Olunga haja iva. Mnaona sasa? The sad part is this, 3 years from now when he will be ready, we will have another youngster who will be preferred over Olunga. Bure kabisa
@Ingo, does it mean pia Messi hajaiva since Argentina didn’t win again?
The games that sharpened Olunga or where he faced real defence are against; Tusker in Kisumu, Congo and Ethiopia.Izo zingine zilikuwa warm up
Bobby Williamson is the wrong man for football in Kenya. Nyamweya must accept this bitter truth and hand that job back to its rightful owner; who he unfairly dismissed (Zico). Poor tactics, poor fielding and poor reading of the game. BW certainly does not cut the figure of a soccer tactician.
I have never been a fan of BW.
@Ingo and @Moses, why blaming Olunga. You should blame the coach on his poor tactics. In a must win game, why did the coach deployed 4 strikers instead of beefing up the midfield? Most of your postings should be made in Ingwe site or somewhere else. How many shots did Olunga had at goal as compared to Jesse Were? Olunga is still a young player with great future.
On Zico as a better replacement, I do not agree with Barefoot Bandit. Zico and Williamson are the same in poor tactics and Zico too can’t take Harambee Stars anywhere. As a matter of fact, look at the struggling Sony in KPL league?
Mwakio, I agree wit you when you say “Olunga is still a young player with a great future”…….but right now he is just not ready for prime time. He belongs to the under 23 team where he has done superb and friendly Harambee Stars matches where he can continue to develop. When his class graduates to their respective senior national teams, I see him continuing to dominate them. Does anyone ever eat meat that is not fully cooked just because it looks good in the pot? If you do that, you will get sick. That’s what exactly happened to the Kenya fans on Saturday. The got sick!
@ingo you are a disgrace ! Leave olunga out of this ,
He is doing his part as a player for him to excel , he will need your support as a fun
Bobby is so weak , incompetent, bad for modern football , so is nyamweya both must leave Kenyan football In order for any meaningful progress to be seen
this is y i treasured amrouche
Who ever bewitched our national team please come forward and accept our most sincere apology from the federation, fans and entire football fraternity so as our national team can at least score and win matches.
I put blame totally on the coach’ s poor tactics, BW has never impressed me even when he was at Gor, no wonder they were thinking of seeking Nutal ‘ assistance
@ ingo ARC is now Gor B
I think lets not blâme the coach So Much, Is like blaming messi on yesterday match. I keep on saying here unless olunga gets another co Player whom they gel well in HS ,olunga Will Never score or shine kimani n Jesse were were aggressive to score thats why they kept making mistakes, Defence played well kina shakava,musa,wafula n mieno. I think So long the strikers Will be mean each n every one trying to score we Will Never go anywhere, how i wish Kenya Can get players like siboumana n ngigzyimana on wings we Will get goals. But Gor cecafa Is coming everyone Is expecting we get trophy, with boniface on goal post am sure of This trophy. But m’y question Is after This cecafa Wil gor Ec afford This players coz what i know any gor who scores against yanga Will be offered huge money. To join them, lets wait n ses but m’y heart tells me we might loose kagere,ngigzimana,siboumana,olunga,shakava,boniface even abondo to either southafrica,zambia,azam,yanga n simba
BW should be practising penalties with these players and watching how they take penalties in the league. If he did, I think he would have chosen defender Odhiambo of Thika to take the penalty
We are good at blame games when team loses , the team performed averagely since we had put average contributions in training and preparations.
Don’t expect much where you have not invested in.
Am not surprised by the outcome having watched the midweek friendly between H/Star and K’Ogalo. The team could not handle K’Ogalo immediately foreign internationals like AUCHO, Walusimbi and Kagere were introduced late in the second half. Our local ayers simply lack what it takes to fight for national honours. This guys are overrated due to below par KPL competitors. They lack energy, purpose , will and zeal to compete. The team selection is horrific and full of favoritism. I keep on asking if Bobby want to attack and score then the best option for attacking wingers who have speed was innocent WAFULA of Gor and Kago of TUSKER. Why bring on Noah WAFULA that late and yet Abondo and Kimani had faded out even before half time.
My men of the match was EDU WAFULA of AFC and Boniface Oluoch of Gor.
What is ODETE and Wanyonyi doing H/Stars?
I I said before that Harambee needs a coach, I know Boby is trying but we need a coach. Please Olunga is excellent striker believe me or not. I can smell a victory in CECAFA. Gor seems to be taking this cup!!
HAHAHAHAHA…..INGO, ati AFC ni Gor b……hahaha .even the coach…
Dear Collins,
These former Gor players have joined Ingwe because that is the only way their professional careers can blossom. Gor players never go anywhere; Look at Dawo, Rama, Seree where are they? When it comes to Ingwe, we have Wanyama, Wanga, Opiyo, Musa Otieno, Keli etc. Just watch, these former Gor players will now go places
Ingo resurfaced at nightmares in Ingwe.