OPINION:Harambee Stars Aspirations; More to teamwork than just Preparations

by
Collins Okinyo
June 6, 2015

By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,

In every sporting discipline, good teams thrive on more than just preparation, technical knowhow and ability plus determination. Good team spirit and cohesion is the glue that holds champions together. For perfomance and overall satisfaction, a certain degree of friendship must exist within a team to form that strong bond that eventually translates to results. Top managers know it, and its the first element they instil in their teams.

HARAMBEE CAMARADERIE

Charity begins at home, and our very own Harambee Stars need be a case study. For years, we have been tested against the continent’s best, and found rather wanting. It is not for lack of trying. Top nations do not reach the apex by mere chance.

It takes a fine measure of camaraderie in a squad before setting out on a mission. In recent times, Kenya has exported talent to top leagues in the world, and ability has hardly been a question. Players of the calibre of Victor Wanyama, McDonald Mariga, Dennis Oliech, David Ochieng et al have plied their trade overseas, and their club influence has been massive.

These are players who have been tried against the best, and not found wanting. They wield a big influence whenever they choke up airmiles to defend their cherished motherland. In essence, such role models should be the glue that holds together the national team.

Local lads look up to such figures for inspiration in the hope of making it big in the paid ranks. It is the sole respinsibility of such big names to come back and be the driving force in the national team set-up.

Going through the archives, legendary Nigerian Finidi George, before he made his famous move to Europe with giants Ajax Amsterdam, once lamented how downcast he felt whenever the Super Eagles’ “local boys” were dropped off after training in rural Ota, while the foreign based stars were put up in the affluent Lagos Sheraton. By his own admission, that was what spurred the winger to work harder and make the grade to Europe.

TEAM FOCUS

Harambee Stars should and must not have cliques for pros and local based lads. In my time for Kenya, established names like Robert Mambo and Tom Juma freely mingled with the rest of the team, shared hotel rooms, and generally inspired up and coming material.

Former captain Musa Otieno did it with Dennis Oliech, with good effect. Football being a team sport, a lot can be achieved if you have a ‘whole round’ motivated side. Egoistic cliques in a team translates to a side in disarray. Again, it is the responsibility of established names to bring cohesion and camaraderie in a squad.

If not, come rain or high water, challenging for honours will wait until kingdom come

N/B The writer is a former Kenya International

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Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com