Kenya to start Beach Football League – FKF boss

The Football Kenya Federation president, Nick Mwendwa, has said that plans are at an advanced stage to start a Beach Football League after witnessing Harambee Sand Stars lose 10-3 to Ghana in the first leg of the Africa Cup Beach Soccer qualifier at the Jomo Kenyatta public beach, known to many as Pirates beach in Mombasa.

“It is sad we have lost by a big margin, but it was a good start for Kenyan beach football. It is time for FKF to get boys play competitive beach football, but we are happy we have started from somewhere,” Mwendwa said.

He handed over Ksh 150,000 to the team saying players need to learn rules governing the sport.

“We are going to start conducting coaching and refereeing clinics to equip the technical bench and referees with new tactics.”

In the match played Saturday, the Ghanaian National Beach Soccer team, Black Sharks, led 2-1 in the first quarter before they took a 6-2 lead in the second quarter and eventually wrapping up the match 10-3 after the final whistle.

Richard Rosa and Alfred Kwame scored a hat trick each and Hussein Mohammed and Michael Selma scored three goals between them. Farid Mbwana scored an own goal. The Kenyan goals were all scored by Modi Hassan.

The home boys did not impress at home and have an uphill task of winning by 8 – 0 in the second leg on September 16 in Accra, Ghana though it was clear that with proper preparations, Kenya is destined greater heights in beach football.

Kenyan coach, Rajabu Babu, said his players panicked but noted that there is a room for improvement.

“Ghana was not technically superior as we initially thought. I knew with the experience, the Ghanaians have in this game, we would lose but we could have done better if our boys did not panic. Ghana has been featuring in big tournaments for many years while we just started last year.  We shall re-organise ourselves before the return match in Accra, Ghana,” said Babu.

Sharks head coach, Daniel Kotey, praised the Kenyan players for having fought gallantly.

“Experience won the day. Kenya exhibited good beach football but they lacked the tactics. I can single out the scorer of the three goals Modi Hassan and goalkeeper Dido Manasse as good players among others,” said Kotey.

He added that his focus is to beat Kenya in the return match and qualify for the Africa Cup championships in Nigeria in December.

KENYA LINE UP: Daiddo Manasse, Farid Mbwana, Madi Hassan, Mohammed Said and Patrick Kimani.

SUBS: Rajab Chai, Paul Kavula, Mudhafar Swaleh, Abduswamad Abdalla, Victor Wawire Mukoya, Mohamed Musa Hamisi and Ali Mwinyi Manzu.

Technical bench: Rajabu Babu (coach), Kinero Swaleh (assistant coach), Jay Abdi (conditioning trainer), Ben Mbela (logistic manager), Rooney Oyando (team leader) and Festus (nutritionist)

GHANA LINE UP: Danniel Goka Kwame, Harold Acquaye, Reuben Semebia Larli, Aziz Kofi, and Innocent Kodwo Kumensah.

SUBS: Alfred Kwame, Hussein Mohammed, Michael Sema , Alexander Adjei , Gideon Adjei, Alfred Torsu, Michael Adjei Anum and Richard Osah.