Harambee Stars will make their debut at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), playing in the ninth edition by virtue of being one of the three host nations. Kenya will co-host the month-long football extravaganza with neighbors Uganda and Tanzania.
The Harambee Stars has its work cut out ahead of the tournament, with a tough pool awaiting them. They have been drawn against two-time champions Morocco and DR Congo as well as perennial competitors Angola and DR Congo.
Playing at home, pressure will definitely be on their shoulders to perform, with Kenyans expecting much from them. However, the biggest challenge in their ambition to at least make the knockout phase of the competition is the opposition they have to face.
Captain Aboud Omar will have the massive task of leading this team, carrying a huge weight of expectation. The team has been in training for the past two weeks, and are looking to sharpen and be in their best form and shape before their first game of the tournament against the DR Congo on August 3.
Omar says that despite being in a tough pool, the Harambee Stars have their confidence high, knowing that with home support, they can maneuver through and make the knockouts.
He speaks exclusively to Telecomasia.net on what the team expects in the tournament, their targets and ambitions and what the home support means for them.
- Harambee Stars is in a very tough pool with veteran teams in the tournament. What do you think of your chances?
- Yes, it is a tough pool with countries which have been there and done well. DRC and Morocco have both won this tournament twice while Angola and Zambia have always progressed well. However, for us, history counts for nothing. That was their performance then, but football is about today. We respect them and know it will not be easy, but we are not going in with our tails between our legs. We are going with confidence knowing that we have a good ability to compete and compete well. An example is in the just concluded FKF Cup; Nairobi United played against the most experienced teams in the league and beat them. In the final, they played against Gor Mahia, a team with the highest form of history in the country and won. So this shows that football does not respect history.
- How have the preparations been so far, heading to the tournament?
- We have been preparing really well and everyone looks very much sharp and focused. Psychologically, physically and mentally we are ready. We have just come from concluding the season and everyone is match fit and the game awareness is still very much on. We are preparing from a high point. The mood is right and the support we have received so far is great.
- You will be playing at home and that definitely that comes with a huge expectation. Are you feeling the pressure?
- There will always be pressure when you are playing at home and that comes with both advantages and disadvantages. For us, the focus is on the advantages it brings to our end. That support and the noise from fans will push us to achieve and everyone will want to do the best for the fans and families who will be watching at home. We have a good balance in the squad with young and experienced players and the duty will be on us experienced players to show the young ones how to deal with the pressure. We hope our fans turn out in large numbers and offer us that huge support that we need for every game.
- Kenya is hosting this tournament for the first time ever. How big is this for the local game?
- I honestly think this is a huge opportunity for us as a country to show the rest of the continent and the world at large what we can do as a nation. For the local players it gives us a chance to compete at the highest level infront of our home fans. We have already seen benefits of this tournament with improved infrastructure. We have the two stadiums which were closed being renovated well, we have also seen the development of more training venues so this is hugely beneficial to us as a country.
- How is CHAN important to you as local based players?
- I think this is a very huge chance for us with the national team. Most of the times, for the international games, you find that local based players don’t get as many opportunities to make the team because definitely of the foreign based players. But, this tournament offers us who play locally a chance to show what we can do and prove ourselves for the main national team. It is also an opportunity to market ourselves because I know that very many scouts and team representatives will be coming to watch and others will be following on TV. So for players who are ambitious and want to take the next steps in their careers, this tournament offers that chance.
- What are the targets you have set for yourself as a team, heading to CHAN?
- Definitely we have to aim high and aim for the title at home. The final is being played here in Kenya so that motivates us to try and go for the trophy. It would be amazing to play the final infront of our home fans and win. But, we are moving a step at a time and the initial target is to make it out of the group stage and into the second round. We trust in ourselves, we trust in our abilities and we know we will make Kenyans proud.
- What message can you send to the fans ahead of the first match against DRC?
- I would want to ask them to turn out in large numbers to support us. Their support has always been massive whenever we play and we expect them to continue that way We are playing against tough teams and so we have to make the most of every little advantage we can get. Their noise will push and motivate us in every game and we need them every step of the way.
