This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
Kenya's Harambee Stars is set to defend its Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup title, which it won in 2017 by edging Zanzibar 5-4 on post-match penalties at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
Coach Francis Kimanzi is upbeat about his squad's chances, comprising mainly of untested players at the national team level, saying they are ready to defend their title.
“During such tournaments we have to give fresh faces the chance to show what they can do and thereafter promote some of them to the main team if they do well,” Kimanzi said on Saturday.
Kenya is in Group B alongside Tanzania, Sudan, and 2017 finalists Zanzibar. Kenneth Muguna, a senior player in the Harambee Stars squad, has warned his teammates against underrating their opponents.
“Tanzania has very good local players plying their trade for good teams like Simba and Azam – they form the basis of their senior national team and therefore we have to be very careful. The same applies to Sudan with the larger chunk of the team coming from big clubs like El Mereikh and Al Hilal,” Muguna said.
Tanzania coach Juma Mgunda believes Kenya are their only threat this year, saying, “We know Kenya very well, they are our neighbours and we have the derby rivalry which spans many decades. We will have to beat them to be assured of a good start and I guess they are also looking at beating us.”
Kenya's probable XI includes Timothy Odhiambo, Johnstone Omurwa, Joash Onyango, David Owino, Samuel Olwande, Roy Okal, Kenneth Muguna, Musa Masika, Kevin Kimani, Clifton Miheso, and Timothy Otieno.
The Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup matches will be played at the Lugogo Stadium in Kampala, with Kenya facing Tanzania at 4pm on Sunday.
