Emerging Stars bid to grace 2020 Olympics thwarted after falling to Sudan

 Emerging Stars bid to grace 2020 Olympics thwarted after falling to Sudan Emerging Stars’ coach Francis Kimanzi slammed his strikers for squandering clear cut chances as Kenya settled for a barren draw with Sudan yesterday at Moi Stadium, Kasarani to crash out of the Olympics qualifiers. Stars were pursuing at least a 3-0 win to successfully recover and overturn a 2-0 loss suffered in Khartoum last week but were dimmed by the visitors, whose watertight defence and time-wasting antics frustrated the home side to eventually settle for a barren draw.

Kimanzi blamed the loss on his strikers’ inability to put the ball past the line from the numerous scoring chances created but predicted a bright future for the team courtesy of their display against the visitors who are under the stewardship of former Gor Mahia coach Dravko Logarusic.

“We missed several scoring chances in either half which would have overturned the result. When you are at home, you have to make each scoring opportunity count. Our preparations have not been the best as we had to wait for players to report to camp on Sunday which is late, unlike Sudan who prepared for three weeks without breaking camp. Despite the loss, we have to encourage the boys and especially our strikers to be more sharp in front of the goal.”

Prior to the match, Kimanzi rung five changes to the squad that played in the first leg, bring in Pistone Mutamba and James Kinyanjui to replace the injured duo of John Avire and Jaffari Owiti. And perhaps after reading the public mood, Kimanzi dropped Kariobangi Sharks shot stopper Brian Bwire whose howler gifted Sudan an easy goal in the first leg for Ulinzi Stars Timothy Odhiambo.

Alwyn Tera paved way for Ovella Ochieng while Sven Yidah was preferred ahead of Wazito’s Teddy Osok. Stars got their first chance in the 12th minute when James Mazembe floated a dangerous cross in the area but an overlapping and an unmarked Johnstone Omurwa headed wide with the goalkeeper to beat.

Stars grew in confidence after the sluggish start but their execution in the final third was met with equal force as the visitors sought to sit deep and defend. Sweden-based Ovella watched his 28th-minute free-kick end in the hands of Mohammed Alnour after he was brought down a few inches from the box.

Ovella, who had managed a number of unsuccessful runs on the right wing courtesy of his electric pace, would later be denied what appeared to be a clear penalty shout in the 35th minute to the surprise of his teammates who had already swing into a celebration mood.

Kenya would have taken the lead three minutes later after Kinyanjui picked an isolated Mutamba in the box but the Sofapaka forward’s feeble shot which was headed off target was blocked by the Sudanese defenders before being cleared off the danger zone.

After the break, Kimanzi withdrew Kinyanjui who seemed to have picked an injury for Sharks forward Sydney Lokale as Stars sought to break the Sudan defence. Sudan continued to frustrate the Kenyan rookies with their defensive and time-wasting antics, forcing Kimanzi to bring in debutant Curtis Wekesa for Mazembe and later threw in Osok for Shambi.

However, the changes failed to yield the much-sought goal as Sudan guarded their area to book a place in the final qualification round where they will face Nigeria. Logarusic heaped praises on Kenya for their display.

He, however, said their chances against Nigeria are minimal. “Kenya played well and I feel they were unlucky not to score out of the clear chances they created. They also played well in Khartoum. We face Nigeria in our last qualifier round and honestly, I think our chances are very slim for they have some of the best players.”