Ghost lauds impact from experienced players

Harambee Stars head coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee was left delighted with how experienced players gave the team a fresh impetus upon introduction into the game. A sluggish start coupled with slow build up play characterized the first half performance from the national team. That first fourty five minute showing consequently led to Mulee introducing two experienced players, Kenneth Muguna and Kevin Kimani, in place of Boniface Onyango and Colins Shichenje upon resumption of the second half.

That double substitution saw an increased tempo in the game with Muguna impressively spraying passes on the Nyayo turf for fun with his impeccable vision. Kevin Kimani on the other hand threaded neat passes in the middle of the park that caused trouble to South Sudan. The increased tempo would pay off in the 79th minute when Elvis Rupia connected well with a Danson Chetambe cross to give Stars the all-important winning goal.

“They (Muguna and Kimani) are players who are not new to the senior national team and when they came on they changed the game. And that is the aim. Muguna was with us during our ties with Comoros and he has also played with Gor Mahia on the continental stage. When you have senior players coming in and changing the game then you are happy because you know they can make things happen in the game,” he said in a live Harambee Stars presser.

The head coach was also happy with the overall showing from the local boys who played the friendly match.

“I’m happy because they were able to get a win. I wasn’t really concerned about the results because the aim of the game was to try out some of the local lads to see what level they can play internationally. We gathered a lot of positives from the game as well as things that need to be worked on,” he added.

The 1-0 win saw the national team kick start the first of their three scheduled friendlies on a positive note. The national team next take on Taifa Stars in a double header slotted to take place tomorrow and on Thursday.