DAR-ES-SALAAM, Tanzania- Harambee Stars coach Jacob Mulee has resigned following his side’s dismal perfomance at the CECAFA Tusker Cup in Dar-es-Salaam.Speaking after Stars’ 2-0 loss to defending champions Uganda on Sunday, Mulee said that he will take full responsibility for the team’s poor showing at the regional tournament.
Mulee thanked Football Kenya Limited (FKL) for giving him another chance to handle the team and added that he was disappointed like any other Kenyan for the teams poor show in their Cecafa regional matches.
“I take responsibility for the teams loss.I cant blame anybody and that is why I feel I should step aside since I was unable to deliver and give Kenyans what they were expecting from the team,”said Mulee.
“For me I thank FKL for showing faith with me by giving me the responsibility to handle the team.I do take responsibility for what has happened despite the many hiccups that surrounded our teams training including failure to pay the players allowances,” he added.
Flanked by his Uganda Cranes counterpart Bobby Williamson,Mulee said the was unable to explain what really went wrong since his charges displayed brilliant football by creating many chances which they failed to convert.
The former Tusker coach said it was a pity that he came along with the best scorer,best midfielder and defender in the just ended Kenya Premier League but were unable to perform well.
Kenya dominated the match and could have scored two or three goals in the first 60 minutes, but Uganda utilized their chances with opportunistic goals in the last nine minutes.
Emannuel Okwi opened the scores in the 81st minute when he picked a long cross from Dan Wagaluka and tapped it under a diving Kenyan custodian Bonface Oluoch.
Oluoch’s disgraceful tackle on Ugandan striker Robert Sentongo in added time gave Tanzanian referee Israel Mujuni had no other option but to send Oluoch off and award Uganda a penalty that Andrew Mwesigwa coolly converted, beating Mulinge Ndeto who had taken the gloves since Stars had used all their substitutes.
“We lacked concentration in the last 10 minutes and we were made to pay for that. There was also a moment of madness from the goalkeeper and I can’t explain what led to that. I have been with the team in different occasions but we have never performed this badly,” said Mulee.
Mulee only made only two changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Ethiopia, opting to rest KPL player of the year George Odhiambo and starting with Fred Ajwang who had scored in Kenya’s previous matches.
He also started with Osborne Monday in midfield in place of skipper Stephen Ochola who suffered a thigh strain in Stars match against Ethiopia.
Stars had a number of chances with Omondi hitting the cross bar with a curling shot, second half substitute Odhiambo remained with Uganda’s custodian Robert Odongkara and the goalie denied him and Fred Ajwang also wasted an open chance.
