Kenya Coach Would Be Satisfied With Draw Against Nigeria

The Harambee Stars need a point against the Super Eagles to keep their World Cup dreams alive...by Peter Pedroncelli

As Kenya's Harambee Stars go head to head with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, a draw in Abuya will awaken their dreams of playing in next year’s African Cup of Nations and possibly the World Cup in South Africa.After retreating from the controversy of commitment letters with local league clubs for their players in the national squad, coach Antoine Hey has now set a draw against Nigeria on June 7 as the Stars’ target in the qualifying campaign.According to The Standard newspaper, the 38-year-old German said he is looking for a point against the Eagles and three against Mozambique’s Black Mambas who will pay the Stars a visit on June 20."It is behind us now (commitment letters row).

There is a lot of confidence in camp and everybody is looking forward to the match.," he explained."If we cannot get the four points to revive our World Cup hopes then we have to settle for an Africa Cup of Nations place otherwise the focus is to play for the World Cup," said Hey.He further said that Harambee strength lies in being a team, which he claimed their opponents lack. Hey has called a number of foreign based players to join the local lads in the Stars camp.They include McDonald Mariga (Parma), Patrick Oboya (Siad Most), Willies Ochieng (Finland), Robert Mambo (GIF Sundsvall, Sweden) and John ‘Mo’ Muiruri (FK Moss, Norway), Dennis Oliech (AJ Auxerre), Musa Otieno (Santos SA), and Antony Origi among others.

The Stars got a boost in the preparation when the humbled a mid table league club, Gor Mahia 1-0 in a friendly played yesterday at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.The only goal was scored by defender Pascal Ochieng in the fifth minute.

The national side's improvement shook off their lackluster showing last week when they fell 2-0 to another lowly ranked league club.In yesterday’s friendly, Musa Otieno marshalled the defence alongside George Owino, Pascal Ochieng and John Njoroge. While Mike Baraza and Boniface Ambani were upfront with Osborn Monday, Peter Opiyo, Julius Owino and Victor Mugabe straddled in the midfield