Wanyama backs Okumbi as Congo win stirs belief

On September 6, 2015, Zambia defeated Kenya 2-1 at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium in their second Group E 2017 Afcon qualifier where Winston Kalengo and Collins Mbesuma cancelled out Michael Olunga’s early goal.

Former captain, Dennis Oliech, who was turning out for Harambee Stars in what would be his last match was so crestfallen and lacked energy to answer questions from scribes.

“Everyone knows how much a win would have been important to me and the entire team. The team has young upcoming players. I hope they can win for Kenya in the forthcoming matches all is not lost,” the country’s record scorer offered as he disappeared to the dressing room in a hurry.

Stars had to wait for 10 months to win their first Group E clash when they beat Congo Brazzaville 2-1 at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani in a victory that came when elimination from the Gabon finals had been long confirmed by two straight defeats to Guinea Bissau.

However, the victory was important to first coach Stanley Okumbi and his assistant Musa Otieno after breaking their winless duck.

“I am not the one who has won, it’s a win for the team and all Kenyans. I believe everybody is happy. I didn’t get enough time to train team in previous matches, but the build up to Congo match was fantastic. We need more friendlies to get better results.

“I thank fans, they have been on our side. But it is good to support the coach whether winning or not. This is an important win for us because we are definitely going to rise on the Fifa rankings,” the elated Okumbi told.

Since his appointment in February, Kenyans in the words of the former Kariobangi Sharks and Mathare United coach ‘have up to my neck’ demanding results and he must have feared the worst when Congo took an 18th minute lead through Prince Oniague from the spot.

Well-taken goals from Ayub Timbe and Mathare’s Eric Johanna saw Kenya sink the country ranked 69 places above them in the Fifa rankings and end their dreams of featuring in Gabon.

Instead, minnows Guinea Bissau will progress from the group for a historic first Afcon appearance after they beat Zambia 3-2 on Saturday courtesy of Star’s defeat of the Congolese.

Okumbi’s unrelenting faith in the youth finally paid off with Eric Ouma, Ismail Gonzalez and the winning goal scorer blending well with the regulars but the first coach who bought himself a stay of execution with the win maintained he had not settled on his first XI yet.

“No one is guaranteed a place in future. There will be unending competition in the team and how every player fares in their respective clubs will matter a lot. Consistency is key,” he explained.

-Wanyama’s backing-

His position will be further strengthened by the backing he received from team captain and Southampton FC star, Victor Wanyama who laid on the assist for the winner.

“From the first whistle we believed in ourselves. We showed that we wanted to win. We knew we needed it to improve our FIFA rankings and we knew what to do in the match.

“We have been working together in training thanks to our coach (Stanley Okumbi) who kept us together and encouraged us to do it. Hopefully the winning spirit will continue.”

Kenya will end another doomed Afcon qualifying campaign away to 2012 champions Zambia hoping to use Sunday’s result as a stepping stone to build on international success.

“We have been doing our best but luck has not been on our side. It’s fantastic things worked today (Sunday). Hopefully we will end it on a high in Zambia,” Belgium based Timbe told Citizen Digital after the match.