Ombiji: It’s time to reach out and help Kenyan game
Kenya’s Paul Were (left) and team-mates celebrate Were’s goal against Tanzania during the Cecafa Under-20 Championships match in Asmara. MOHAMMED AMIN I NATION
What you need to know:
- This Under-20 team may turn the country’s fortunes, the usual distablising factors being kept aside
The Kenya Under-20 team at the Cecafa Under-20 Championship here in Asmara is playing very well.
On Saturday, they exploded in their third match of the tournament whipping Tanzania 3-1 and qualifying from Group “A”, for the semi-finals that take place on Wednesday.
This was even before playing their last pool match today against the hosts Eritrea.
A draw will put them on top of the group, to meet Rwanda in the semi-finals.
After a 2-2 draw with Sudan in their opener last Tuesday, the Kenyans pulverized Somalia 6-0 on Thursday.
But it is the manner of their play in the three matches that had pundits here rating Kenyans as possible winners, even though defending champions Uganda are a pretty formidable foe.
Coach Vince Ombiji’s team has a lofty goal.
They are the only side in the Cecafa (Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations) region left in the 2011 African Under-20 Championship qualifiers.
They are firmly focused on the last phase, a tie against Lesotho next month where they would book a place to the continental finals in Libya next May.
“I wish this team goes to Libya,” said Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye, himself a Kenyan.
“They have the potential. In fact, this should be the basis of Kenyan campaign for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.”
Kenya eliminated Sudan from the African qualifiers, winning 2-0 in Khartoum and 1-0 in Nairobi.
A sophisticated group of players, drawing their experience in the Kenyan Premier League, is looking as hopeful as there has ever been.
Their results in the qualifiers, the impending meeting with Lesotho and their skilful play has triggered euphoric response.
Indeed it would be the first time ever for a Kenyan age-group team to play in African finals.
Kenyan representative teams, in the past, have had the worst of treatments by the national football federation, struggled and always looked miserable.
This Under-20 team may turn the country’s fortunes, the usual distablising factors being kept aside.
That is what everyone here in Asmara wishes for the team.
The Kenyan juniors have the attention of many admirers and Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar, a Somali journalist writing for international news agencies, interviewed Kenya’s coach Vince Ombiji.
In the story below are excerpts of the interview which illustrates the interest of other Cecafa members now have in Kenyan football.
