Kenya U20 national team the Rising Stars have, on Saturday, lost to Tanzania at the finals of CECAFA U20 tournament, and Kenyans can’t stop talking.
After bundling out Eritrea in the semis, the Stanley Okumbi-coached side held Tanzania at the Fufa Technical Center in Njeru Stadium until the 46th minute when pressure led to an own goal (John Otieno Onyango) against Kenya.
A spirited fight by the Rising Stars thereafter never bore any fruits with Tanzania hanging on their 1-0 lead to the 2019 title.
Full-Time:
Tanzania 1-0 Kenya (46’ John Otieno Onyango – Own Goal)@Tanfootball 1-0 @Football_Kenya (46’ John Otieno Onyango – Own Goal)@CAF_Online, @fifamedia, @cecafafootball, @NCSUganda1, @Official_UOC #CECAFAU20
CONGS Tanzania pic.twitter.com/TG0PwKajfa
— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) October 5, 2019
And Kenyans have expressed their reactions. Some are grateful for the finalist position while others feel that Kenya could have lifted the title.
Prior to the match, Kenya head coach Stanley Okumbi had expressed confidence in his boys with a promise of victory. “Although Tanzania have a better team than my team, I will get my cards right tactically to win that game. “My players are well motivated and ready to die a little on the pitch,” added the coach,” he said.
Captain Brian Bwire Okoth had also promised a good show at the finals. “All the players are determined to play their hearts out. We know Tanzania is a good side, but we shall win the trophy,” he said.
His Tanzanian counterpart Zeberi Katwila never underrated Kenya but hinted at the need to win the tournament. “A final is always tough and we cannot underrate the Kenyan team. Despite travelling over 700km to Gulu for the quarter-finals and semis and now back to Njeru, my players are very motivated to go out and win the trophy,” he said.