Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi is convinced the country has what it takes to build a formidable and competitive team that can successfully contend for the 2024 Africa Nations Championships in February.
Kimanzi said they are still in the early phases of identifying the right personnel that can get the job done at the eagerly-awaited Chan 2024, which Kenya will host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
“We are sure we will have a very competitive team for the tournament. We have already seen players who have the right mindset and mental attributes to perform well in the tournament,” Kimanzi said.
Kimanzi made the remarks after guiding his charges to an emphatic 2-0 win over Tanzania at the ongoing Mapinduzi Cup tournament at Gombani Stadium in Zanzibar.
The seasoned gaffer showered his players with compliments, stating that they had excellent character and could reach new heights.
“A good game, a good show and a good fight between the players. It is a sweet victory for the technical bench and medical staff, who worked tirelessly to ensure the players recovered quickly following the first game. “It is a win for the players, coaches and fans,” Kimanzi said.
“We are growing mentally and character-wise with each match,” he added.
He said their primary goal at the Mapinduzi Cup is to assemble a victorious squad and sufficiently hone the players’ skills for the continental championship, which takes place from February 1–28.
“We should focus less on winning the Mapinduzi Cup and more on the process of rebuilding the team. “That process requires a character, which we are currently developing,” he added.
He urged fans to be patient while the technical bench works tirelessly to produce a championship-winning team.
“However, we can only do this if we are not under too much pressure. We are taking things slowly.
If we develop a competitive character, I believe we shall be rewarded towards the end,” Kimanzi said.
Kimanzi predicted a fierce matchup against hosts Zanzibar in their final Group ‘A’ encounter.
“This battle will be more intense than the two we have already played against Burkina Faso and Tanzania. This is simply because we are playing the host, who has four points like us,” Kimanzi said.
“The match will be a big one and I’m sure it is going to excite our players. I’m looking forward to the match and I’m sure we will give it a good fight,” he added.
Kimanzi explained the need to rotate the squad to gauge the quality of
each member of the squad.
