The Kenya National football team Harambee Stars, on early Sunday morning made their way to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in what was going to be a memorable trip for the team and one Dr. Jafar Barmaki – the Ambassador of Iran to Kenya for various reasons.One reason is that Kenya will be making a return to international football after 500 days, the last match being the second-round World Cup qualifier against Rwanda where Harambee Stars won 2-1 at Nyayo Stadium.##NAJAVA_MECA_7125247##The other reason is that the aforementioned Dr. Barmaki had 25 years ago been part of the delegation that got in touch with the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) in securing an Iran-Kenya friendly in Takhti Stadium, Tabriz – the first time the Kenyan team played Iran at their backyard.The memories of 21st April 1997 were visible as the Ambassador recounted the moment on Sunday.“In fact it was about 25 years ago when I was here [Kenya] for another mission, joining the embassy and we sent the Kenya national football team to Iran for a friendly match there,” Barmaki said.Kenya ended up 3-0 losers and when they met again in 2009 at the Azadi Stadium in Iran, they were on the losing side once more, going down 1-0.The boys arrived in Tehran, safe and sound.#WeAreBack pic.twitter.com/BnN9BRCqPj— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) March 26, 2023 That said, Barmaki is not in the camp that believes that results matter in such friendlies, putting into consideration the upcoming March 28 game.“It is a friendly match and winning is not important,” Barmaki said. “Taking lessons from each other is the most important thing and that should be the aim of this game. We should expect a good match no matter who wins.”With Kenya placed a whooping 77 places behind Iran, Barmaki did agree to the fact that the game will be ‘good for both sides’ as they seek to build on football experience.AFCONQ: Zambia play Lesotho as Sao Tome and Sierra Leone lock horns in Morocco“Expect a good match from both sides no matter who wins,” the 60 year old dignitary said. “It should be a fair match where necessary experience is built. We wish the teams success.”Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat on Saturday named his final squad of 23 players expected to feature in the game that kicks off on Tuesday at the Azadi Stadium from 1900 EAT.
