Thursday 7 October 2021 will remain to be one of the darkest nights in Kenyan football. A disjointed Harambee Stars side got a thorough beating in the hands of Mali in a FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier match held at Stade Agadir in Morocco.With all eyes on new head coach Engin Firat who was handed a two month contract to try and show us what he is capable of, the national team went on to suffer a humiliating and humbling 5-0 defeat in the tactician’s first match in charge.A night to forget in Agadir https://t.co/OICrF9WmaH via @MozzartSportKe#HarambeeStars #Mali— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) October 7, 2021 While the loss was not unexpected, it is the manner in which the team were beaten and some of the appalling decisions made by the coach that caused a lot of pessimism and left a lot of disappointment on netizens countrywide.After the dismal showing, we reflect back at some of the talking points in the game.1. Coach, why play Joash Onyango at right back?The world over, one famous coach is renowned for jinxing his matchday squad when his team is needed to perform on the big stages. He has outwitted himself even in his own selection and Kenyan football fans have never let him rest. Little did they know what awaited them with their new national team head coach.On his first official match in charge, Firat decided to play Joash Onyango, one of the country’s best ever produce in the central defense positions, at right back! This was a Joash who had literally seen hell when played in the same position in one game during his days at Gor Mahia. Furthermore, Joash was only making his recovery from an injury sustained last season and had not played the first two games of the 2021/2022 Tanzanian Premier League with his Simba side. Was he capable of making the runs forward expected of a right back? Or was he supposed to close out the gaps by inverting into a back three when Kenya had possession? There was no tactic to his deployment at right back to say the very least.Joash Onyango at right back pic.twitter.com/kDgRDZptym— Salim Masoud Said (@salimosaid) October 7, 2021 That is not even the point. Why play Joash at right back when you have an able player in Daniel Sakari who has not put a foot wrong since being the most likely player to solve those right back problems?If worse comes to worse, why was David ‘Calabar’ Odhiambo even called to the squad then. Even after realizing the costly mistake of slotting Joash at right back after just 33 minutes, the technical bench did not try to correct their mistakes, bringing on Abdalla Hassan who went on to cost us two goals. Important to note is that Hassan does not play in the wingback position he was forced to play in as he is a poor defender. And it showed.2. Coach, what was the plan?Before the clash against Mali, Harambee Stars had two points from two draws in games that we can say were winnable but didn’t happen. Mali vs Kenya player ratings: Harambee Stars fail to sparkleIn his first match against Mali, a game that felt a bit out of reach due to the stature of the opposition, what was the plan for head coach Engin Firat?Were we supposed to go out all guns blazing and toe to toe against the 61st ranked nation in the world? Or was this supposed to be a signaling start of what his reign would be like? The team felt disjointed with relevant player positions thrown out of the window. Why was Henry Meja experimenting in a wing position? Why were we hell bent on taking the game to Mali when we knew we are worlds apart and we would be better off playing a cautious game?🇲🇱 5-star Mali flex their muscles with a ruthless display against Kenya 💪#WCQ | @CAF_Online | @femafoot pic.twitter.com/cmckQ3E0vf— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 8, 2021 We couldn’t even defend. Apart from Johnstone Omurwa whose redeeming performance after that red card against Egypt was overshadowed by the five goals conceded, Joseph Okumu, Joash Onyango, Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma and the returning Abud Omar who were expected to provide some composure and experience looked like newbies who could not even defend, let alone show some composure on the ball. Okumu made the first mistake for the opening goal, Meja was responsible for the second, the whole defence was caught napping from a corner to allow Mali’s third, Hassan, due to his poor defending abilities, foolishly took out Moussa Djenepo in the box to hand them a fourth from the penalty spot. The fifth goal also came with the defense not putting any pressure on the Malians. It was a sad watch to say the very least. All that while, there felt as if there was no plan at all apart from ‘hakuna bao ingine majamaa.’3. It is not time for a transition just yet.The Harambee Stars feels like a side ready to move on from the likes of Victor Wanyama, Johanna ‘Tosh’ Omollo, Ayub Timbe, Brian Mandela and kina Anthony Akumu. But not just yet.Imagine a scenario where Wanyama – who has now announced his retirement from international football – is in the middle of the park offering cover to the upcoming Richard Odada and Kenneth Muguna. Or Tosh lining up alongside Wanyama and Muguna pulling the creative strings a little bit upfront?I also feel we need experienced players in the midfield. It wasn’t the right time to let go off Wanyama and Tosh. Odada and the rest are good but they can only be introduced gradually into the team, not being thrown into the thick of things in such crucial matches pic.twitter.com/1mmgGjUavh— Jeff Kinyanjui (@Nyash88) October 8, 2021 The thing is, without the old guard, the new project feels bare exposed. There is no experience with it. Look at a current Spain. 17 year old Gavi impressed the whole world with his exceptional composure and breathtaking talent. But he still had 33 year old Sergio Busquets by his side to lift him through various phases of the game.That is the same leaf that Kenya needs to borrow a leaf from. Odada has no one with the authority to listen to in midfield because he is the one expected to come up with the solution yet his inexperience is still weighing him down. A midfield of Odada, Muguna and Lawrence Juma should have a ground to fall back on. To listen to, get advice and a sense of direction. Who can command the dressing room right now in that squad? And bark out instructions on that pitch?It has been an honor to represent my Country and I think the time has come for me to pass the mantle to the young ones,I’ll always be a of the National Team and their biggest supporter . pic.twitter.com/7jaQ1qA9Lw— Victor Wanyama (@VictorWanyama) September 27, 2021 It is a nice project to have, but without the invaluable experience gained by our top players, we might as well be digging our own grave. Left exposed like that, they all feel like a bunch of trialists.4. Who is supporting Olunga? From obscurity to limelight- the inspiring story of Rooney OnyangoEngineer. The one and only. SOYA’s most outstanding sports personality in 2020. Japan’s 2020 Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer. 2015 Kenyan Footballer of the Year. With all the pomp that comes with his exploits in front of goal for club, Olunga is instantaneously reduced to a mere lanky figure when it comes to the national team set up.A lot of weight is placed on his shoulders but is there anything being done to ease his burden? How many times did he receive service against Mali and Uganda and Rwanda in the opening three games? Are we suiting his playing style? Are we giving him enough of the ball to try and do what we expect him to do?Olunga when it’s time to turn up for his country pic.twitter.com/ZTZ9AX44OP— drey (@Dreymwangi) October 7, 2021 Still, he will be castigated for poor display when he we are probably the ones who are not doing him any favours.After the loss, Kenya dropped to third place as Uganda beat Rwanda to go second on five points. Yes, there are three games left but let us not kid ourselves.