Erase the memory of the last war. The last war you fought is a danger even if you won it.
Stanley Okumbi, the Harambee Stars manager has been fairly presented as a story of transformation at the helm of the once disgraced Kenya’s senior men’s national team since succeeding Scotsman Bobby Williamson.
Plucked from Mathere United in the Kenyan topflight, the disguised soft spoken tactician has managed to turnaround the fortunes of the team from a soft target to a battle hardened outfit capable of picking notable wins, at least in friendlies.
Since the bangled 2017 Gabon African Cup of Nations qualifiers, in which he (Okumbi) took the stick for poor fielding in a double identical 1-0 loss to Guinea Bissau, Stars are yet to taste defeat in ten outings in friendlies.
The last battle which propelled them to the current 78th position in the FIFA ranking was the much acclaimed 2-1 triumph over two-time African champions DR Congo in March this year.
The win was a second on the trot for Stars over the Leopards whom they edged 1-0 in the first warm-up in September 2015 in Kinshasa.
But as they say, do not think about the last war; you do not have the distance or the detachment. Instead do whatever you can to blot it from your mind.
Kenyans will not remember the unbeaten streak, which Okumbi’s faithfuls including the Football Kenya Federation have glossed over if he fails to kick-start the 2019 Afcon campaign away to Sierra Leone on 10th June with a positive result.
Nothing short of qualifying Kenya for the Cameroon showpiece will be a terrible failure and both Okumbi and the FKF may never be forgiven.
Kenyan and Sierra Leone are in group F of the qualifiers alongside Ghana and Ethiopia.
The honeymoon is over. To those who were patient enough to give Okumbi a second glance, this will be the opportune moment to pass the judgment, while to those who out rightly dismissed him as anon starter, who only landed the job because of his closeness to the administration, it will be the time to call for his head, if he sets off on the wrong footing in Freetown.
Okumbi has no much excuse for failure this time. The FKF has worked to ensure the team plays regular friendlies and is well facilitated. Long gone are the days they bathed using pool water at Nyayo Stadium and regularly staged sit-ins over unpaid bonuses. The FKF under Nick Mwendwa has ensured the basics are in order.
The federation recently penned a three-year technical sponsorship deal with Singaporean sports Apparel Company Mafro and Stars are expected enjoy the feel good effect of donning the new designs against the Leone Stars.
The home-based professionals reported to camp Sunday in Machakos with all the 26 call ups turning up after the last matches of the first stanza of the Kenyan Premier League over the weekend.
The team was scheduled to take on Angola in a friendly on 4th June; nonetheless, this was shelved after the opponents pulled out.
Their foreign-based counterparts will team up with the rest within the stipulated time allowed by the world’s football governing body FIFA.
Sierra Leone, who recently appointed former international John Keister as their new coach, has summoned an all foreign based side.
The country has not had active football leagues in the past four years, while the national team is yet to play any match since failing to qualify for the 2017 Afcon.
On paper Okumbi looks the better prepared to overcome the next challenge, however, he must understand the greatest generals, the most creative strategists, stand out not because they are able, when necessary, to drop their perceived notions and focus intensely on the present moment.
