Harambee Stars’ thunderous fall in the opener of the AFCON 2019 against Algeria was definitely a sobering moment for all national team fans – in Kenya and beyond.
Returning to the continental platform after 15 years in the cold, majority of Kenyans believed that the team has the capacity to pull more surprises from the onset but ALAS!
https://twitter.com/kenya_opera/status/1142012880797274112
The loss reintroduces the different aspects of the football game – not just the finances and ball kicking art – but also the mental strength, tactics and general approach. The coach himself has expressed disappointment with the turn of events.
The question remains, how best can Harambee Stars keep alive their quarter/semis target while real with the current pressure from all quarters? Leaders and former players have taken it upon themselves to encourage the team.
It is clear that one way of keeping the dream alive is to BEAT Tanzania, NOT to focus on how far we want to go in this tournament. It was also crystal clear that a lot as not working from the first match; let’s right the wrongs first against Tanzania and claim this derby, period!
In any battle, ‘small’ wins motivate teams to go for bigger wins and in this case, Tanzania is our version of a smaller win [clearly Senegal isn’t a small battle] to face. The coach must, therefore, get back to the drawing board and ensure that a win is what is recorded.
We are still proud of you. Don’t listen to the naysayers boys let’s keep our heads up learn from all the positive criticism and constructive dialogue and keep doing better! You deserve to be at #Afcon2019 #KENTAN #Tunaweza #HarambeeStars @harambee__stars @Football_Kenya pic.twitter.com/IWhEN0p518
— Willis Raburu (@WillisRaburu) June 25, 2019
Despite their vitriol and sarcasm after the first match, a majority if the fans seem to believe that beating Taifa Stars will offer the much-needed impetus to bounce back on track.
It has been motivation allover and Kenya expects nothing but a win!
#Tunaweza https://t.co/ekO9nTpTL6
— Football Kenya Federation (@Football_Kenya) June 24, 2019
Mariga’s powerful and short message