FKF wants Nuttall on Stars’ bench against Botswana
Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall could be part of the U-23 national team’s technical bench against Botswana in a crucial Africa Nations Championships (Chan) cum Olympic Games qualifying match on Saturday.
Kenya lost 3-0 in the first leg against the Southern Africans in the first leg a fortnight ago and thus require to win the match by four clear goals to advance outright to the next stage of the qualifiers.
The team’s enormous task has informed Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to add technical expertise to the dugout, Nairobi News understands.
“I am aware Bobby (Williamson) has been speaking to our coach but that was on a friendship level. We however have a match on Sunday which will be his (Nuttall’s) priority,” Gor Mahia’s assistant secretary Ronald Ngala said.
The rest of Kenya’s technical bench consists of ex-internationals Musa Otieno (assistant coach) and Simeon Mulama (team manager), with the later having refuted reports circulating on social media over the past few weeks to the effect that he had resigned from this role.
Williamson, a former Gor Mahia and Uganda Cranes trainer, is meanwhile confident his charges will turn the tables on their opponents at the Nyayo National Stadium.
PREVENTABLE GOALS
“All the goals we conceded over there were preventable. They scored thrice against us in 45 minutes but am optimistic we can score an equal number of goals in the duration of the game,” Williamson said.
According to FKF’s media liaison John ‘Fifa’ Kariuki, the Botswana team is expected in the country on Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the team’s coach Paul Pio has been reported by the Botswana media saying that his men will “finish off the job” in Nairobi.
“We have them where we wanted them to be. They are not tactical enough to withhold us over 90 minutes. And if we score even once, it is game over,” Pio told Botswana’s Daily News.
Sankoyo Bush Bucks forward Omaatla Kebatho, scorer of two goals in the first leg is expected to lead the team’s attack in the return leg.
Micheal Olunga has been drafted in Kenya’s team for this assignment, having missed the first leg owing to personal commitments.
Rwandan officials John Bosco Niyitegeka, Raymond Bwiliza and Hudu Munyemana will officiate the match that could be screened live on Azam TV, if the ongoing negotiations between the Tanzanian based broadcaster and FKF are fruitful.