Sunday’s defeat to Mauritius is the latest setback for Harambee Stars under Turkish coach Engin Firat, who, without doubt, at this point inspires little confidence.The Turkish has been in charge of the Stars for seven games, losing four, winning two, and drawing one. By all standards, this is not an enviable record for the tactician who speaks big about taking Kenyan football to the next level.##NAJAVA_MECA_7324347##On Sunday, nothing seemed to go Kenya’s way on the pitch before they eventually lost to a nation ranked 180th by FIFA, an entire 78 places below Kenya! So bad was Kenya’s outing in Mauritius that they finished second-bottom in a four-team tournament that was won, look away, by Djibouti!Mozzart Sport takes a look at things that could have contributed to Kenya’s defeat on the Island of Mauritius.Fielding players out of positionAmos Nondi is a central midfielder, but the tactician somehow sees him as a right-back. He started games against Pakistan and Mauritius as a fullback, and although his performance wasn’t really faulty, it exposed his limitations. Other players that found themselves out of position were Abud Omar, a left-back playing as a winger; Daniel Sakari, a right-back playing as a winger; and Daniel Anyembe, a defender playing in central midfield against Pakistan. Kenya has enough cover for each and every position, and maybe it is time he stopped forcing round pegs into square holes.Zero creativityFirat opted for a double pivot of Richard Odada and Teddy Okumu in the middle of the park and went with Michael Olunga and Benson Omala up front. The result was zero chances created from midfield, and all Kenya had to rely on were aimless crosses from wide and set-pieces that amounted to nothing.The only positive from that Mauritius trip has to be Moses Shumah. Boy grabbed that chance with both hands. The once little known Shumah returns home as a name many football fans will want to see often in the NT roster.#HarambeeStars pic.twitter.com/USbANQi2Ey— Murimi Kipchirnjir (@muriminjirujnr) June 18, 2023 Nondi can be creative in midfield, and so can Joseph Mwangi. Shockingly, Nondi was fielded as a fullback, and Mwangi did not come off the bench. More shocking is the fact that the midfielders with the most assists in the league (Duke Abuya and Tyson Otieno) were left behind.Goalkeeping gaffesIt is now becoming the norm that whoever starts in goal for Kenya will most certainly make an error leading to a goal. Arnold Origi did it against Zambia; Brian Bwire was at fault against Uganda; Patrick Matasi made two costly mistakes against Iran; and on Sunday, it was the turn of Bryne Omondi, who was making just his second appearance for the national team. His indecisiveness in goal cost Kenya the game, although his defenders should have done better.Key players are off colourWe did not see the best of Olunga against Pakistan, and neither did we see it against Mauritius. Over the years, he has led the line alone, and the decision to have twin strikers appeared to derail the striker, who on several occasions dropped deep and ended up being ineffective. Erick Ouma, who has been one of Kenya’s best players in the last few years, barely left a mark in the game. Actually, both games.Full-time Mauritius 1-0 Harambee Stars Mauritius are ranked 180th by FIFA by Kenya occupy position 102.#HarambeeStars pic.twitter.com/Ey1hXJOcwU— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) June 18, 2023 RigidityFirat appears to have a specific way of doing things and doesn’t shift from it even when it is not working. With Kenya losing to Mauritius, there was no need to introduce Omar and Sakari, both defenders. Why not throw in Mwangi, the only attacking midfielder in the squad? The midfielder with the most goals in the league this season, Abdallah Hassan, has been in great form for the national team; why leave him on the bench throughout the game? Boniface Omondi could have easily injected some pace into his attack; why let him clutch onto his shin guards throughout the game?Mwalala recommits to Ulinzi Stars
