A Fan's take on Kenyan Soccer

I'll start at home today. Charity begins at home, but don't call me Charity. There's gonna be drama

Kenya has been eliminated...  yet again. Remember what I said last time? Unless the team is reviewed, there is no way Kenyan football will prosper. I honestly think the problem lies with the team selection. We had problems with the management, we "changed" the managing body, then we thought our problem was the team manager/headcoach and went on to change the managers.... severally. And now... Mr Kimanzi, our very own UEFA trained headcoach, no more. Well he is still in the management board. He is now the technical director. What will he even do there from there? Fishy business eh?

Anyway, we can only hope for the best because the latest string of results have not been appealing. Even for the ardent fans. I hope this time they(the management) pay the players their dues this time. We don't want anymore Oliech sagas, now do we? Which also reminds me, as much as fans want to support the team, the government doesn't support them. This was highlighted by Kimanzi in his post-match interview. He said that the team gets minimal funding... apparently. We need to pull a "Germany' I think. They spent heavily(750million pounds) but they got the best. Look at the Germans now in the Euros.

Kenyan Premier league: Our beautiful league has resumed, earlier today in fact. AFC Leopards and Sony Sugar were first, and they played out a 1-1 draw. The good thing about AFC though, is that their prolific striker is back. Yes, Allan Wanga is back from the sidelines, and he marked his return with AFC equalizer. I actually think am growing into the team. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll know the full line up. I know there's many of us who know European Clubs' full line-ups and substitutes and don't even know the full back line of the Harambee Stars.

Further afield, England have made it into the quarters of  Euro 2012. A hard fought victory against Ukraine ensured they got ended up top of their group. France... stupid team. They suffocate England, beat Ukraine and then lose to Sweden. An eliminated team. Messed up, eh? But that's part of the beauty of the game.

Am sure my friend @kevin_seth will have something to say about the Euros but let me just put up these fixtures, for your viewing.

Thursday, June 21st

Czech Republic v Portugal 

Friday, June 22nd

Greece v Germany

Saturday, June 23rd

Spain v France

Sunday, June 24th

England v Italy

I think Spain vs France and England vs Italy will be mouth-watering encounters.

Lets talk more football some other time. And be sure to whisper a prayer for the Kenyan boys. It wouldn't hurt if we saw our team play in a major tournament sometime, now would it?

Dutch felled in Group of Death

Last time we spoke about football, Germany needed a point while the Dutch needed a miracle. Sadly they didn't pray hard enough, or maybe Portugal prayed harder. And so Germany sealed their position at the top of Group B, and I have to give credit to Denmark. I had ruled them out completely, even though they still exited the tournament, they had a better record than one of the huge favorites, Netherlands. Honestly for me, the Netherlands were a shock exit. I had predicted Portugal and Denmark would exit. but i still reiterated that a giant had to be sacrificed in the 'group of death'. I read a few good reactions on BBC Sport(If its not on BBC Sport, its gutter) and here are some that I think you might like too.  

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writer: "Cristiano Ronaldo delivers. Good to see great players gracing major tournaments - and whether you like him or not he is a great player."

Germany captain Philipp Lahm: "Every match in this group was difficult. 

"It would appear the Netherlands took the group of death literally and were utterly lifeless throughout their whole campaign."


Denmark came close to claiming a point against Portugal and certainly did not disgrace themselves in defeat by the Germans.


Seems that Van Persie's been a victim of his own reputation, Ronaldo the beneficiary of his.


Who would have thought Netherlands would be eliminated before England? And without a point to add salt to injury... 

Judging by those few comments, I could tell Euro night was legendary. I missed it, sadly. I was watching a very captivating series but I managed to catch the highlights, and boy were those Ronaldo goals classy!! I wonder if Ronaldo's critics(I don't want to say haters) will still label him 'lack-lustre'. I mean sure he is not upto Messi's level, but his level is no other mortal's, lets be real.

In another group, the 'stubborn hosts' Poland were eliminated along with the Russians they clashed with on the streets. Looks like they kept their eyes off the ball, eh?And then we have Spain Italy and Croatia fighting for their place in the quarter finals. Anyone could get in. Anyone could go home

Elsewhere, Kenya's Harambee Stars lost their Africa Cup/World Cup qualifier in Togo. Thats three matches we've failed to win, and in succession. That's messed up. Simple. I pray for the day we will see an improvement in Kenyan football. And it was this Origi guy that we were waiting for to 'solidify' our team at the back? In brighter news though, the Kenyan transfer window is almost coming to a close, and the market has been alive. Clubs have been on a signing spree, with friendly matches being organized to test the new players. I have a feeling KPL will be a good watch when the league resumes

In other unrelated news... the Soccer & Social tweet up was a success. People showed up, played their soccer and ended up having a good time. We played two long matches that ended 8-7 and 2-1. And since Saturday I haven't seen any 'subaru' on the TL concerning the that day. So am guessing it was a success.Well that was all for the love of the game.

More football after we are certain if England have made it to the quarters(I'm rooting for them). Lets see what effect Wayne Rooney will have on the Three Lions and who will have to step down for him and who among Italy, Spain and Croatia will join them in the quarter finals.

EUROS, EPL & KENYAN FOOTBALL WRAP

So, Germany need a point. Netherlands... they need a miracle. The free scoring Van Persie doesn't score when he wants after all. Poland and Ukraine are the stubborn lot we all expected them to be. And our usual stars aren't shining. Ask Torres, Robben or Rooney. Or better yet... Cristiano Ronaldo. Am still pissed at him for almost giving away his team. He and Robben are almost single handedly bundling out their teams of the tournament.

The Germans... they are executing their rivals so well. Defensively, they are intact, upfront lethal. And I like their midfield domination. They have players to bully and the players to create flair as well as attack. I personally think the Dutch played really well. I just don't understand what their problem is defensively. And the England versus France game... well both teams approached it cautiously. That 1-1 draw was even too much to ask for from that game. At least there was plenty of flare in the game. I expect England to see off Sweden easily though. I personally think Chamberlain should NOT start. We, yes am an England fan,  need experience on the wings, Chamberlain isn't exactly experienced. He is raw talent. Hodgson should play Ashley Young on the left, Walcott/Downing down the right... with Defoe and Welbeck upfront and VOILA!!! They conquer the Swedes

Elsewhere, while we were watching the Euros, Redknapp resigned/got fired.. or whatever was the case. If you have been following his case, Redknapp has been through a rough patch. The trial, the heart attack, his team's form slump and now he's been sacked.
You have to feel sorry for him. He really doesn't deserve that, I think. He has a really good track record, with Portsmouth. and he only got better with them, before taking on Tottenham, who by the way were 17th at the time and then turned them into Champions League material. If he wasn't already old, although age comes with experience... I'd say he'd make a good replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson, which makes me wonder, when is the Legend that is Ferguson going to retire and most importantly.... who CAN and will replace him?

Also, while we enjoyed European football, Man United signed Nick Powell(18yr old starlet) and are finalizing a deal with Shinji Kagawa. Chelsea gave Di Matteo a 2-year contract, signed Marek Hamsik from Napoli and Eden Hazard from Lille. Arsenal are also in the running for Podolski and Olivier Giroud. Looks like next season will be a hotly contested affair, don't you think?

And while all that was happening, Harambee Stars lost to Namibia, after a disappointing draw at home to Malawi. you want some more bad news... we play Togo. Not sure if we will also play Nigeria at some point. But my point is... Mr Kimanzi needs to field strong teams... yes, some are his friends but we need good players who are not necessarily HIS friends. Friends of the country... you get the drift, right? Otherwise, every match Harambee Stars will ever play will always be FRIENDLY or a QUALIFIER.

I'll let you enjoy your Euros good people.
PS... am very disappointed with the Dutch. They can still make it though.