Harambee Stars tactician Engin Firat is adamant that Sunday’s return leg against Mali will be better for his charges after a shambolic display in the first leg and is hoping his players will show their true colors.Kenya shipped in four goals in the first 45 minutes as Mali run riot in Morocco and though the second half was a much more improved one, it was not enough as damaged had already been done.H.TMali 🇲🇱 4-0 🇰🇪 KenyaAdama Traore 8″Ibrahima Kone 22″Ibrahima Kone 36″Ibrahima Kone 45″ pic.twitter.com/7GJWtCSa88— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) October 7, 2021 Speaking after returning to prepare for the second leg, Firat says that he did not even recognize the team that played in the first half after their bad display but he would be analyzing that performance critically to see where they went wrong.“It cannot be worse than Thursday. I don’t know exactly what happened on Thursday in the first half and I have to go and analyze it. This is not my team, this is not what they have shown in training. I can understand if that is their capacity but they are much better,” he said.The former Moldova national team coach went ahead to note that the players he has been having in training were nowhere near the team that played, something that is making him angry and disappointed because he knows their capability.We’re back home, safe and sound 🙏🙏Time to reflect on that performance and strategize for our return match on Sunday.Three more matches to give it our best shot 💪#Tunaweza pic.twitter.com/7lX1KBkDe6— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) October 8, 2021 Stars came alive in the second half but could not manage a goal, conceding a fifth one instead, and Firat continues to wonder why they did not start the game with the same spirit and energy.“These boys are much better than what they displayed yesterday and that is what makes me angry and disappointed. In the second half they showed that they were much better and I wondered why we did not start like that from the beginning. Against big teams like Mali who have players in midfield who are playing in top teams if you give them space, they will kill you. This is something we have to change and I am sure this much on Sunday will be much better,” he added.Kenya have just on Saturday to rest and make amends before they take on the same Mali for the return leg at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday starting at 4 PM.
