Ten-man Harambee Stars were held
to a barren draw by the Swallows of
Burundi in an international friendly
at the Nyayo National Stadium,
yesterday.
Stars captain Victor Wanyama got his
marching orders just 13 minutes
after his introduction in the second
half, for pretesting against the
centre referee Ssali Mashood's
decision to award the visitors a free-
kick.
Both teams started the game
cautiously, with Burundi defender
Stephane Rugonumagabo clearing
James Situma's 17th minute
dangerous cross in the area.
Burundi could have taken the lead
in the 27th minute, but Amisi
Tambwe lashed the ball into the
side netting, although there was a
marginal touch from goalkeeper
Wilson Oburu of Bandari.
With less than eight minutes to the
break, Geoffrey Kataka unleashed a
powerful shot but Jacob Keli was
ruled offside from the rebound.
On resumption, the overseas-based
players led by Wanyama, Mcdonald
Mariga, Allan Wanga, Peter Opiyo
and Francis Kahata replaced Stephen
Ocholla, Paul Kiongera, Brian
Osumba, Keli and Geoffrey Kataka
respectively in a match guided by
Adel Amrouche’s deputies James
Nandwa and Kennedy Odhiambo.
Amrouche was serving a two-match
ban after he was shown the red card
against Comoros.
Just 27 minutes after Wanyama’s
red-card, Stars could have broken
the deadlock in the 72nd minute,
but Jockins Atudo’s header from
Kahata’s corner-kick was saved by
Burundi keeper Innocent Mboni
before Mariga missed a precious
scoring opportunity in the area.
The friendly was part of Kenya’s
preparations for this Sunday’s 2015
Africa Cup away qualifier tie against
the Crocodiles of Lesotho.
Meanwhile, Harambee Stars will
have to do without the services of
first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi
after Norwegian top-tier side
Lillestrøm SK declined to release him
for the Maseru clash.
To vent his emotions, the 30-year-old
custodian took to Facebook to
expresses his disappointment,
accusing the continental football
body for arranging fixtures outside
the Fifa calendar.
“Caf should seriously think on how
they plan and set up their fixtures.
It’s difficult to be released for games
outside the dates set by Fifa for
international matches. Really
disappointed to be missing this
weekend’s ACN qualifier,” read a
post on Origi’s Facebook account.
In his absence, the burden of
manning the goal will either fall on
Bandari shot-stopper Wilson Oburu
or Gor Mahia captain Jerim Onyango.
to a barren draw by the Swallows of
Burundi in an international friendly
at the Nyayo National Stadium,
yesterday.
Stars captain Victor Wanyama got his
marching orders just 13 minutes
after his introduction in the second
half, for pretesting against the
centre referee Ssali Mashood's
decision to award the visitors a free-
kick.
Both teams started the game
cautiously, with Burundi defender
Stephane Rugonumagabo clearing
James Situma's 17th minute
dangerous cross in the area.
Burundi could have taken the lead
in the 27th minute, but Amisi
Tambwe lashed the ball into the
side netting, although there was a
marginal touch from goalkeeper
Wilson Oburu of Bandari.
With less than eight minutes to the
break, Geoffrey Kataka unleashed a
powerful shot but Jacob Keli was
ruled offside from the rebound.
On resumption, the overseas-based
players led by Wanyama, Mcdonald
Mariga, Allan Wanga, Peter Opiyo
and Francis Kahata replaced Stephen
Ocholla, Paul Kiongera, Brian
Osumba, Keli and Geoffrey Kataka
respectively in a match guided by
Adel Amrouche’s deputies James
Nandwa and Kennedy Odhiambo.
Amrouche was serving a two-match
ban after he was shown the red card
against Comoros.
Just 27 minutes after Wanyama’s
red-card, Stars could have broken
the deadlock in the 72nd minute,
but Jockins Atudo’s header from
Kahata’s corner-kick was saved by
Burundi keeper Innocent Mboni
before Mariga missed a precious
scoring opportunity in the area.
The friendly was part of Kenya’s
preparations for this Sunday’s 2015
Africa Cup away qualifier tie against
the Crocodiles of Lesotho.
Meanwhile, Harambee Stars will
have to do without the services of
first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi
after Norwegian top-tier side
Lillestrøm SK declined to release him
for the Maseru clash.
To vent his emotions, the 30-year-old
custodian took to Facebook to
expresses his disappointment,
accusing the continental football
body for arranging fixtures outside
the Fifa calendar.
“Caf should seriously think on how
they plan and set up their fixtures.
It’s difficult to be released for games
outside the dates set by Fifa for
international matches. Really
disappointed to be missing this
weekend’s ACN qualifier,” read a
post on Origi’s Facebook account.
In his absence, the burden of
manning the goal will either fall on
Bandari shot-stopper Wilson Oburu
or Gor Mahia captain Jerim Onyango.
