FKF bosses Petra, Muthomi back Stars to shine on

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President Doris Petra and CEO Robert Muthomi have backed Hambee Stars to knockout Burundi in Thursday’s Cecafa semi final at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu.

Speaking to Citizen Digital immediately after touching down at the Kisumu International Airport on Wednesday evening, the two expressed confidence Stars will qualify for the final.

“We really hope to win. We have a good team, they have trained well, they are in high spirits and there is confidence in camp.

“We urge them to win this for us; we really have to win because we are the hosts and the conclusion cannot be good without us in the final,” Petra said.

On his part,  Muthomi rallied the players to be courageous and clinical to overcome Burundi.

“We are defending so well, the coach (Paul Put) has a very good defensive record even in the past team he has coached, he builds from the defense.

“The players however need to be a bit more aggressive in striking. In knockout stage draws translate to penalties and that becomes anybody’s game,” Muthomi advised.

Harambee Stars are under pressure to replicate their 2013 performance when they won the tournament at home, under the tutelage of another Belgian tactician Adel Amrouche.

This will be the first match Kisumu will be hosting in the 39th edition of the competition ahead of Friday’s second semi final between Zanzibar and champions Uganda.

The match kicks off at 3:00PM (EAT).