NAIROBI, Kenya, March 1- Harambee Stars head coach, Francis Kimanzi, is seeking to integrate more players to his side as he plots to finish the job over Togo in June.
The coach saw his side dominate the subdued Sparrow Hawks before it ran out 2-1 winners on Wednesday during the first leg of the 2013 Nations Cup knock-out qualifier.
Kimanzi recalled English League 2 Torquay United forward, Taiwo Atieno and gave new call-ups to Christian Bwamy and Ayub Timbe who failed to make it to the game.
“When you bring a new player in, you can kill him by giving him too much time. What is important is that the player must be accepted by the others in terms of playing style,” the coach who brought on Atieno for the last ten minutes said.
“Our midfielders are sharp and they are used to playing with Denis (Oliech) and for a new striker, we have to introduce the player systematically,” he added on Taiwo’s cameo appearance.
Kimanzi outlined his plans ahead of the return leg in Lome to sustain Kenya’s pursuit of their first Nations Cup appearance since the 2004 edition in Tunisia.
“My preparation depends on the number of players I will invite and even though there is no FIFA week, I intend to have crash test matches if we find teams we can host so that we can slot in the new players.
“It’s still a long way to start planning for Togo and my immediate concern is to prepare for Malawi and Namibia in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in May,” he explained.
The coach was however, not impressed by the fact his side went to sleep in the 42nd as Razak Boukari headed Togo’s away goal that could prove pivotal in the return leg.
“The worry for the coach is when the team keeps on attacking and creating chances, the opponent is waiting. When you are not very organised as it happened then you get caught in the counter situation.”
Kimanzi was further incensed by the chalking off of the Dennis Odhiambo 30th minute headed goal by Mauritius referee, Seechurn Rajindra for an infringement on Togo keeper Mawugbe Atsu that would have given Stars a 2-0 first half lead.
“I believe that was 100 percent a goal. Those are the kind of goals we celebrate because we work very hard for them, it was systematic and the execution was perfect.
“When we are robbed of that, it is sad, they would have rather disallowed Allan’s goal than that one,” he added alluding to Allan Wanga’s individually inspired 65th minute thunderbolt that settled the game.
“It’s an important victory at home. The team is showing some development and confidence in their style of play. To get two goals means we were very smart if you access the size and height of the Togolese.
“They played ten men behind the ball and to score twice from set plays against them was tricky, it is not a slim win, it was a fight.”
Togo were missing their biggest star, Emmanuel Adebayor who failed to turn up for the game despite reports he was due to link up with his team mates on a chartered flight from London.
The Sparrow Hawks head coach, Didier Six, who was visibly irritated after the game retorted, “I’m speaking nothing about Adebayor, you all saw, he did not come.”
