In a turn of events that has Kenyan football enthusiasts dancing in the streets, the Harambee Stars are set to grace their home turf after an agonizing hiatus. The much-anticipated clash against South Sudan on Tuesday, September 12th, 2023, at 4 PM EAT, will take place at none other than the iconic Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. It’s a homecoming worthy of a red carpet, and the excitement is palpable.
You see, dear readers, it’s been a long and winding road for Kenya’s National Football Team. Ever since FIFA dropped the ban hammer in February of 2022, citing fiscal foul play by the former Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, the Harambee Stars have been orbiting the international football scene like satellites longing to re-enter the atmosphere.
Their last terrestrial conquest was a spirited 2-1 victory over neighbors Rwanda, a fixture that provided a tantalizing taste of what could have been in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Alas, third place in the pool left them just shy of the finals, and coach Firat almost bid his adieu with a two-month swan song.
But the ban was more than just a time-out for Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets. It was a missed ticket to continental and World Cup qualifications. The 2023 Africa Nations Championship and the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations slipped through their fingers like elusive goals.
Yet, amidst the trials and tribulations, a beacon of hope emerged. The Cabinet’s resounding nod to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the audacious aim for the 2030 FIFA World Cup is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Kenyan football. It’s a rallying cry for fans to turn out in droves, to let their voices echo through the hallowed halls of Kasarani.
Let’s not forget the recent triumph over the Asian champions, Qatar, in a friendly match that saw Amos Nondi etch his name into the annals of Kenyan football history. A 90th-minute winner that sent shockwaves from Doha to Nairobi and showed the world that Harambee Stars are not to be underestimated.
In the 19th minute, Okumu’s header, a veritable missile from within the box, was a testament to the Stars’ hunger for victory. A tantalizing dance with destiny that sent the stadium into a frenzy. And let’s not overlook Olunga’s tantalizing opportunity, a moment that had hearts in throats as the skipper went one-on-one with the keeper, only to be denied.
The seesaw continued as Qatar clawed their way back, leveling the score from the penalty spot in the 34th minute. But it was Nondi, the maestro from Armenia, who would have the final say. A deft side-footed finish from a mere three yards out, the culmination of Olunga’s sheer determination, and the stadium erupted in jubilation.
This victory, against a team perched on a higher rung of the rankings, is more than a win. It’s a statement. A declaration that Harambee Stars are back, stronger and hungrier than ever.
#StarsTuesday
— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) September 10, 2023
Form ni ya Kasa 🏟️on Tuesday!
Peleka mpoa out aone ball⚽ si kila siku KFC😎#HarambeeStars pic.twitter.com/qT1DZx9Wxq
So, fellow fans, as the sun sets over Kasarani on September 12th, let us gather, let our voices rise, and let us show the world that home is where the heart—and the goals—are. It’s time to paint Kasarani in a sea of green, red and white and let the Harambee Stars feel the thunderous heartbeat of a nation behind them.
