Under-23 game on
Tumelo Mouwane | Friday April 24, 2015 17:00
BFA president, Tebogo Sebego said the Kenya Football Federation’s (KFK) request came late to be considered. Botswana and Kenya clash in the first leg of the qualifiers at the New Lobatse Stadium tonight. Kick off is at 7pm. “We were not able to postpone the game due to logistical reasons. Our stakeholders were already invited. “The Kenyan Federation only pleaded with Botswana Football Association (BFA) to postpone the match yesterday (Wednesday) . Unfortunately, it was too late.
“If they could have told us on time, we could have considered their request. The game will still take place at the New Lobatse stadium at 1900hrs as it was initially fixtured,” Sebego said.
Sebego further said the young Harambee Stars are expected to arrive today. According to reports from Kenya, their football association president, Sam Nyamweya said the team’s late departure was caused by failure to secure a transit visa.
“Initially, we had planned to go through South Africa but we were told it would take one week to get the visa. “That is when we opted for the second option of going directly via Kenya Airways,” he is quoted as saying.
As it stands, the Kenyan players will arrive in Gaborone today aboard Kenyan Airways.
Upon arrival they will travel to Lobatse where the team is expected to hold a training session before the match. This might give advantage to Pio Paul’s charges as fatigue is expected to be a factor. The Kenya squad will endure a four-hour flight. Paul would now bank on home advantage plus the Kenyans’ jetlag to record victory in the first leg. He has a strong squad of players with Premier League experience with Thatayaone Ramatlapeng and Omaatla Kebatho expected to lead the attack. Sankoyo Bush Bucks striker, Kebatho impressed when the team played Lesotho early this month. Other notable names in the team include Gaborone United winger, Mpho Kgaswane and his teammate, Goitseone Phoko who has been outstanding between goals. Paul told Mmegi Sport early this week he was optimistic of bagging a win. “The intention is to win,” he said. The Kenyan side is expected to play a physical game, but would be without towering striker, Michael Olunga due to academic commitments. Olunga has been an influential player in the Kenyan squad. “Charles Odette is ruled out through injury, but the Kenyans still have Sony Sugar who was named second best defender in Kenya last year. Zimbabwean, Norman Matemera will be the referee assisted by his countrymen, Salani Ncube and Brighton Nyika. The second leg takes place in Kenya in a fortnight.
Senegal hosts the 2015 CAF Under-23 Championships in December. The championships also serve as an Olympic qualifier with the top three teams booking tickets to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.