Kenya will go head to head with Zimbabwe in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification Group J match on Friday.
The match will take place at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, but off-pitch developments have likely left head coach Engin Firat sweating between his fingers as he scrambles to pen a suitable defensive strategy.
With regular center-back Johnstone Omurwa leaving camp unexpectedly to finalize a club move, Firat’s defensive line-up suddenly looks as shaky as a novice on stilts.
The departure of Omurwa, who anchored the defense at Portuguese club CF Estrela Amadora until June 2024, has left a gaping hole at the heart of Harambee Stars’ defense—a void that might as well have a neon “exploit me” sign for Zimbabwe’s attackers.
To compound the situation, Daniel Anyembe, who has previously stepped in during World Cup qualifiers, chose this moment to attend to personal matters back in Denmark, while Collins Shichenje is nursing an injury in Serbia. This leaves Firat scratching his head, possibly wondering if a witch doctor might help summon spirits of defensive solidity.
The likely replacements from the local club Gor Mahia, Alphonce Omija and Sylvester Owino, though talented, are green in the realm of international football.
Omija, who made a name for himself blocking Brighton’s Simone Adingra on the right flank, now faces a test at the center, a position where every misstep could lead to disaster rather than just a throw-in.
On the other hand, Owino’s towering presence was felt in the Cosafa tournament with the U-23 team, but stepping up to the senior team, especially in a qualifier, is like jumping from a frying pan into a furnace.
Firat commented on the situation, his tone a mix of hope and unmistakable stress:.
“I don’t know why we are always unlucky during FIFA days, we always have injured players. We are missing a lot of important players and it is a very unlucky situation for us,” he lamented.
His words paint the picture of a man who, instead of plotting tactical moves, might spend the night before the match lighting candles and hoping for divine intervention.
The situation has a comical edge—if you are not a Harambee Stars fan. One imagines Firat pacing back and forth, muttering to himself about the robustness of Zimbabwe’s frontline, featuring talents like FC Nantes’ Tinotenda Kdwera and the explosive Douglas Mapfumo of Polokwane City.
The thought of Prince Dube, who has been known to dance through defenses like a hot knife through butter, likely sends shivers down Firat’s spine, prompting a frantic review of every available defensive player, including perhaps the team bus driver and the kit manager.
Yet, all hope is not lost. The return of stalwarts Eric Ouma and Amos Nondi to the fullback positions brings some semblance of normalcy and experience to the backline. Veteran left-back Aboud Omar might not have the legs of his youth, but his cunning and understanding of the game will be crucial.
In midfield, the Stars boast depth with Richard Odada, Anthony Akumu, and the creative sparks of Kenneth Muguna and Eric Johanna, suggesting that Firat might favor a “best defense is a good offense” approach.
Upfront, the hustle of Jonah Ayunga and debutant Victor Omune might just divert attention from the defensive dramas unfolding behind them.
Firat’s strategy and selections could either be a masterclass in crisis management or a comedy of errors—only time will tell.
