Kenya’s Under-20 team beat Zimbabwe in Malawi tourney

• Kenya beat Zimbabwe 3-1 in Lilongwe
• Elly Owande scored a brace for the Rising Stars
• They will play Malawi in the last match on Sunday

Kenya’s Under-20 national team, the Rising Stars, beat Zimbabwe 3-1 in their first match of the three-nation invitational tournament in Malawi on Friday evening.

A double from Elly Owande and one more goal by AFC Leopards winger Hassan Beja gave Kenya the vital win, and puts them top of the table, pending their final match against hosts Malawi on Sunday.

Malawi had earlier on beaten Zimbabwe 3-2 in the opening match of the tournament and their duel against Kenya on Sunday will be blockbuster, as it will determine who wins the tournament.

The Kenya team was without head coach Salim Babu, who was left behind due to what the Federation termed as trouble with his travel documents.

“Rising Stars coach Salim Babu could not travel with the team owing to a hitch in his travel documents. Consequently, his assistant, Anthony Akhulia, will serve as head coach for the team in the competition,” a statement from the Federation stated.

Akhulia, who also coaches Bidco United in the FKF Premier League, took charge of the team leading them to victory, and says he was delighted with their performance especially against an opponent they had not watched before.

Kenya faced a difficult match

The Rising Stars players line up before the match against Zimbabwe

“It was a very difficult match especially playing against a team that we have not watched before and we didn’t know much about them. But we won and that is the most important thing in football,” said stand in coach Anthony Akhulia.

Looking ahead towards the game against hosts Malawi, Kenya coach Akhulia says they expect an even tougher assignment.

“It will be a tough match especially noting that we will be playing against the hosts. But we will be prepared just like we were today and I believe the boys will do a better job and we win the match,” Akhulia added.

After a good measured start, the Kenyan boys took the lead after just nine minutes when Owande curled in a brilliant left footed effort after wriggling his way to find shooting space at the edge of the box. It was the end of some good team play by the Kenyan boys, after Beja had done most of the work to dribble into the Zimbabwe half and lay off the ball for his teammate.

Owande doubled the tally in the 18th minute with another well taken effort on his left foot, this time thumping the ball into the roof of the net after making a deft run into the box from the left.

On the other end, Kenya had some few moments of nerves when Zimbabwe almost pulled one back but keeper Issa Emuria made a good save from point blank to keep away Denzel Mafua’s deflected shot. Prince Magondo also had a shot blocked by Suleiman Manzur minutes later.

Zimbabwe almost pull one back

Kenya’s Christopher Koloti winning the ball against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe almost thought they had scored the equalizer a few minutes later when Emuria’s attempted pass from the back was intercepted and laid off for a goal, but the ref waved the flag as the interception came with a handball and the goal chalked off.

In the second half, Kenya continued their dominance, with coach Akhulia making several changes to his squad as he sought to give everyone playing time. The introduction of Tyrone Kariuki in midfield added some pace and flair, and Kenya were more dangerous offensively.

Zimbabwe tried to build in some good resistance to cut off the two goal deficit, but they could not land a threat in Kenya’s half.

Ultimately, Akhulia’s charges made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute when Beja beautifully connected home a well weighted cross from Timothy ‘Babu’ Ouma. Ouma, who was a late call up to the team on recommendation from senior team coach Engin Firat made a good run on the right before laying in a cross.

Ouma, who plays for Swedish top tier side Elfsborg needed the playing time and was hence not called up to the senior team, as he would be limited.

The three-goal cushion gave some good comfort to the Rising Stars, but a mistake at the back saw Zimbabwe pull one back with eight minutes to go. However, it wasn’t much to throw the Kenyan boys into panic.