2023 was a successful year for the national men’s football team, the Harambee Stars, in the eyes of assistant coach Kennedy Odhiambo.The team returned to international football after more than a year out due to the suspension by FIFA with a couple of high-profile friendly matches and was later welcomed back to competitive matches in the year.The re-admission to international and competitive football and the success realized after a year of inactivity, performance, and exposure gained from rubbing shoulders with highly ranked teams are steps made in the right direction, according to Odhiambo’s school of thought and review of the year.##NAJAVA_MECA_7769417##Kenya last played an international match on November 15, 2021, against Rwanda at the Nyayo National Stadium before suspension was imposed by the world’s governing body over government interference.The suspension saw Stars miss the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and remained out of action up to March this year.”The year has been a success for our national team in many aspects. We had been in the dark for more than a year, but we managed to regroup and play against top opponents in friendly matches. Returning to action and securing those friendly matches are signs that we took positive steps,” offered Odhiambo who serves as an assistant to Engin Firat.Performance in the yearStars placed 102 in the first ranking released by FIFA in April and dropped eight places, as Kenya currently sits at position 110.Kenya played eight matches in the calendar year, winning three, losing four times, and drawing once.Stars kicked off the year with a 2-1 loss to Iran in an international before recovering to beat Pakistan 1-0 in the Four Nations tournament held in June in Mauritius.Engin Firat feted as the Most Successful Turkish Coach abroadKenya fell 1-0 to Mauritius in the final game of the tournament, sparking anger from the fans who felt that Firat’s charges would have had an easy time in thrashing the islanders.Stars responded to their critics in the best way possible after edging the 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar 2-1 in a friendly match played in Doha early in September.What was supposed to be an easy match that would have boosted the team’s confidence ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers pitting Stars against South Sudan ended 1-0 in favour of the Bright Stars.The friendly match staged at Kasarani Stadium in September was interestingly settled by Kenya Police striker Tito Okello.The game was the sole Stars played in front of home fans in the year.Kenya then secured a favourable result against the 2018 World Cup hosts, Russia, whom they held 2-2 in Turkey in October.After playing high-profile friendly matches and featuring in the Four Nations tournament, Stars were ushered into the World Cup qualifiers, where they played two matches last month.Kenya lost 2-1 to Gabon in the opening duel in Franceville before recovering to humiliate Seychelles 5-0 in a game played in Ivory Coast.In total, Stars scored twelve goals and allowed nine in the process. “If we managed to score in six of the eight matches, it shows that we have been good at attacking. There is room for improvement in the other departments,” said Odhiambo. Both Masud Juma and Michael Olunga were the best scorers in the year, with three goals apiece.Juma found the back of the net against Seychelles in the 2-2 draw against Russia and netted the consolation goal in the loss to Gabon.From football glory to charcoal fires: The unfortunate story of former Harambee Stars defender Patrick NamaiOlunga, who was arguably the most criticized player in the year, was on target twice against Seychelles and managed to find the back of the net in the defeat to Iran.The defensive trio of Amos Nondi, Joseph Okumu, and Rooney Onyango all scored their first Harambee Stars goals this year.Defensive midfielder Anthony Akumu, Benson Omala, and Moses Shumah also opened their goal accounts with the national team this year.Stars kept two clean sheets in the eight matches, with KCB shot stopper Bryne Omondi and his Kenya Police counterpart Patrick Matasi claiming one apiece.Omondi who appeared to be Firat’s preferred first-choice custodian until an ankle injury struck in October while in action against Russia, kept a clean sheet in Kenya’s 1-0 win over Pakistan, with Matasi in goal during the 5-0 triumph over Seychelles.”It has been a successful year for me, as I managed to make my debut and went to play some matches. I am looking forward to my return and next year’s matches with optimism,” said the custodian who secured his first call in 2018.Mathare United legend Edgar ‘Fighter’ Ochieng optimistic of club’s return to ‘table of men’Reacting to the results the team registered in the year, Odhiambo expressed satisfaction, arguing that they were fair if the period of inactivity was to be factored in.”Good results in football don’t happen by chance. You have to invest, build a team, and have patience. It was practically impossible to win all our matches, considering that the players had not played together for long. The coach had to bring in new players, impart his philosophy, and build from scratch again within a very short time. The matches helped us realize the strengths and weaknesses of the team as well,” said the former Bandari coach.Much as the losses Stars registered in the year outweigh the wins, for Shumah it was the best as he earned his first call-up, debut, and goal in the year.The Kakamega Homeboyz man got his first call-up in June ahead of the Four Nations tournament and scored on his debut, kissing the back of the net against Pakistan.“This was my best year career-wise. I secured my first call which I wasn’t anticipating at all. I marked my national team debut with a goal and went on to create lasting memories with the team. The goal is to return to the team in the new year and help deliver on the objectives,” he said.Harambee Stars call up leaves Moses Shumah in cloud nineShumah is convinced that the team has the mettle to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco and seal a ticket to the World Cup for the first time.“If you keenly look at the steps the team has made under Firat, the kind of friendly matches we played, then you can see he is building something special. I believe that we will do well in next year’s qualifiers,” added the player who dreams of scoring more goals while in the national team colours.Besides Shumah, Firat handed a handful of players their first call-ups to the national team, and the lucky ones tasted action.20-year KCB centre-back Haniff Wesonga, the US-based Nabi Kibunguchy, Murang’a Seal winger Erick Balecho, Zanaco’s Dennis Ng’ang’a, Tusker’s Joseph Mwangi, AFC Leopards winger Hassan Beja are among the players who got their first call-ups this year.The door was also opened to some familiar faces who returned after a while in the cold. Notable among those who made a comeback to the team are Ovella Ochieng and Eric Johana.With the World Cup qualifiers set to resume in June, next year, Odhiambo is convinced that Kenya will punch above its weight.Engin Firat lauds Rooney’s offensive prowessMeanwhile, it will be interesting to see if the government will have upgraded at least one of the facilities in Nairobi to meet the set standards.Kenya is scheduled to host Burundi and Ivory Coast in June next year. As it stands, Kenya doesn’t have a facility that can host international matches.Kenyans deserve anything but to catch those two matches live from the stands.All eyes will be on Firat, who was recently voted as the as best Turkish coach abroad on how the team will perform in the two crucial qualifiers.
