Kenyan Legends on Harambee Stars’ Malawi Move for World Cup Qualifiers

Former Harambee Stars players believe that playing the forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast away from home is somewhat a blessing in disguise. 

Stadium Relocation Due to Renovations

Kenya will host the two matches on June 7 and 11 respectively at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe due to the lack of a stadium that is FIFA accredited at the moment. 

Both the Nyayo and Kasarani stadia are closed for renovations as the country gears towards being ready for the African Nations Championship (CHAN ) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Losing home advantage in a World Cup qualifier could easily be viewed and deemed unfortunate but some ex-Kenyan internationals have different thoughts. 

Confidence Despite Tough Opposition  

Ivory Coast are the deemed favourite by virtue of the quality in their squad and given that they won the AFCON earlier in the year on home soil. 

The Elephants are also clear favourites to top Group F of the qualifiers on paper, but Wanga feels that with astute planning, Stars can easily match them and even book a ticket to the finals that will be jointly hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. 

Wanga, who raked in tens of caps during his active years, says the time Stars have spent in camp is long enough to plot for positive results in Malawi. 

"Good planning will easily get us points against the two opponents. The team has been in camp for some good time which is a positive thing. If we organise ourselves well on and off the pitch, we will reap good results. It has been proven that there are no longer underdogs in football," said the former AFC Leopards captain. 

Benefits of Playing Away

Former striker Allan Wanga says playing home matches away from home will relieve pressure off the shoulders of the players. 

Wanga, who hanged his boots in September 2021, disclosed that much as playing at home gives the host an advantage, it tags along with massive pressure to impress the crowd. 

"Home matches are full of pressure. When you walk through the tunnel to a full stadium, as a player the last thing you can wish is to disappoint them. Much as I feel bad for the Kenyan fans, playing in Malawi will somehow help our players to express themselves without subjecting themselves under pressure," the former Al Merreikh striker told Sportsboom.com.

Ex-Internationals Call to Government

 While the duo feels that staging the matches in Malawi will eliminate pressure from the team, they say the government could have done better in having at least a facility ready at this moment and time. 

Situma urged the government to speed up the renovation works at Nyayo and Kasarani in readiness for the subsequent international assignments.

"We appreciate the efforts by the government to refurbish our facilities to meet the set requirements. However, we could have had at least one ready for these matches. The fans deserve to see and support the team in action. I hope we will be infrastructure-ready in the next international break," urged the current KEFWA President. 

For Wanga, he says, the government led by Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, should double efforts on two facilities and have them ready.