Williamson looks to finish Mauritius job

Harambee Stars take on Mauritius Sunday evening at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani in the return leg of the first round of the 2018 World Cup pre-qualifiers aiming to reach the second round.

Stars carry a three-goal cushion, having won the first leg 5-2 away in Bellevue and look set to go through to the next round. The Indian Ocean Islanders have to score four unanswered goals in the match if they are to upstage Bobby Williamson’s Stars in front of their partisan fans.

Speaking to Sunday Nation Sport after his team’s training programme on Saturday at Kasarani, Williamson said that he would rotate his squad to avoid the risk of missing some of his players who picked yellow cards in the first leg should Kenya qualify to play Cape Verde in the next round. Stars will tackle Cape Verde in round two of the qualifiers should they dispatch the Joe Tshupula-coached Mauritius.

“We took our chances and scored goals in the first leg. I’m sure they (Mauritius) will come at us but we just have to do our part,” he said.

“There are a number of players who have linked up with the team and it’s good because it brings competition. Besides, there are three players on yellow cards and so I will rotate the squad.”

OWINO, MANDELA RETURN

Zambia-based Stars defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino and Brian ‘Niang’ Mandela who plies his trade with South Africa top-tier side Maritzburg United are available for selection after missing the first leg clash.

The two will most likely team up at the heart of defence while Edwin Wafula and Dennis Odhiambo are strong candidates to retain their positions at right and left back respectively.

Williamson at the same time said that he hoped that the football administrators will give him a thumb of approval to continue guiding the team on long term saying continuity is key to Stars’ success.

“So many coaches have handled the team within a short period and I think continuity is key and hopefully, they can stand by me. It’s easy to work with the players when they know you’ll be there for long,” he said. Stars head into today’s match with the cloud of indiscipline that recently rocked their camp.

“Of course, discipline is key and I maintain that.  Many have said that I’m not tough enough on the players but the tongue-lashing has to be done privately. Not in public,” said Williamson. Stars are the bookmaker’s favourites to sail to the next round as they have never lost to the islanders in the six occasions they have met.

The visitors are however expected to throw caution to the wind and deploy a full throttle offensive football against Stars in a bid to overturn the huge deficit.

Skipper Jonathan Bru and Justin Jean Jonathan were some of the standout performers in the first leg and Stars defence will have to keep a keen eye on them.