Tag Archives: team

2014 WORLD CUP DRAW | Harambee Stars vs. Seychelles

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When the draw for the 2014 world cup qualifiers was conducted on the 30th of July 2011, the Kenya national soccer team was among a group of 24 lowly ranked teams in the continent set to face it out before joining a group stages for a chance to taste glory in Brazil. The stars ranked 130th in the latest FIFA rankings are set to square it out with the tiny Indian ocean island of Seychelles’ known better for its tourism than for its football prowess. The stars should have an easy task advancing into the group stages if Seychelles’’ current placing in the rankings 197 is anything to go by. However in football anything is bound to happen and for this reason the stakeholders should ensure the team prepares enough in time for the 11th of November clash away before a return fixture in Nairobi four days later.

If the stars cross the Seychelles hurdle they will join Nigeria, Malawi and the winner of the tie between Namibia and Djibouti in group F to fight it out for first place. The winner of the group will join nine other group winners in five two legged ties with the winners representing Africa in the 2014 FIFA world cup. Nigeria and Malawi who are ranked higher than Kenya pose the biggest threat at that stage. In the recent past Nigeria has proven to be our perennial rival when it comes to world cup qualification each time the super eagles flying above our stars. The latest being the 3-2 defeat at the hands of the West Africans in Nairobi during the qualifications for the 2010 world cup. There are lots of positives that the current national team can build on from that encounter and possibly take us all the way to Rio bearing in mind the fact that we were leading only for our defensive frailties to let us down.

The stars have a good chance of making it through to face off with the big boys of African football for a chance to play in Brazil .However that will only happen if preparations start early.

References:
Super eagles in Harambee Stars’ way, Daily Nation, 2nd August2011
Kenya 2 Nigeria 3: match report, The Telegraph, 14th Nov 2009
Road to Brazil, standardmedia, 2nd August 2011

SOCCER | Who will sit out for Sanchez?

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After weeks of speculation and numerous rumors linking Sanchez to at least four top European clubs, Alexis Sanchez finally put pen to paper on Monday and signed for Barcelona . The sensational Chilean forward has been taunted as one of the best prospects for the beautiful game, with some going as far as saying he is better than Lionel Messi, the current FIFA player of the year. Well, without demeaning  the speedy, skilful 22 year old forward, his national team coach Claudio Borghi, is obviously taking sides when he says Sanchez is better than Messi. With the deal sealed and Sanchez -who scored 12 goals and made 6 assists in 31 matches- now a Barcelona player, the next question is; who will Sanchez  replace from the star studded Barcelona team?

Alexis Sanchez

Last season, Barcelona virtually won anything and everything that was there to compete for, and they did so in such prolific form earning much bragging rights for their millions of supporters worldwide and putting on a show for their rivals’ supporters alike .Their starting eleven was consistent for most of the campaign with a few changes mainly due to injuries. Alexis Sanchez has proven himself as a forward  despite turning out as a winger in his first season at Udinese. However it is problematic determining  whom he will replace in the Barcelona front row which was dominated by Pedro, Villa and Messi last season. Sitting out the current best football player would be next to impossible unless something tragic happens to him, thus we are left with Villa and Pedro. David Villa is more of a central attacker whereas  Sanchez is arguably less fit to play in that position. My guess is that it would prove quite a task to get Villa’s position. So we are now left with Pedro, I think Sanchez can fit in Pedro’s shoes and impart  a bit more of  speed and flare.

We shall have to wait and see what Pep Guardiola does with this array of talent. However, if his thinking is close to mine, then Barcelona’s  4-3-3 formation, with Sanchez, Villa and Messi forming the final third, will be a force to reckon with.

 

References:
Udinese forward Alexis Sanchez on the road to greatness telegraph.co.uk, 18 June 2011

Barcelona signs Chile forward Alexis Sanchez sportsillustrated.cnn.com , 20 June 2011