U-23 team upbeat ahead of Egypt match
Harambee Stars team manager Simeon Mulama believes the U-23 national side is “adequately prepared” for the upcoming assignment against Egypt in the qualifying phase of the All Africa Games.
The youthful side will depart for Cairo on Friday morning, for the first leg match that will be a repeat of the 1987 All Africa Games final at Kasarani.
“We have prepared well and will be going there to try and achieve a result that will cushion us for the second leg,” Mulama, who boasts inside knowledge of the Egyptian team, having featured for two seasons in the Egyptian league added.
Stars will be missing the services of seven regulars including Collins Shivachi, Enock Agwanda and Danson Kago (Sofapaka)
Others who will miss the match are Micheal Olunga, Bernard Odhiambo, Haron Shakava and Timothy Otieno (Gor Mahia), all of whom have opted to turn out for their respective clubs in crucial continental engagements.
SOLITARY GOAL
Sofapaka are seeking to overturn a 2-1 deficit they conceded at home against Zimbabwean club FC Platinum in the return leg of the Caf Confederation Cup set for the mining town of Zvishavane on Saturday.
Gor Mahia who will play against Malagasy outfit CNaPS away on Sunday, the same day Stars will be facing Egypt, are keen to protect a solitary goal advantage from the first leg match in Nairobi.
“We don’t have much of a choice other than to replace them with other players who have impressed in training and during our warm up matches,” Williamson, who will be seeking his first ever win over Egypt in five attempts, told Nairobi News.
The youthful side has posted 2-2 and 1-1 stalemates against local top flight sides Sofapaka and Ulinzi Stars in the past fortnight, results the team’s manager Simeon Mulama says helped the technical bench understand the players.