After a goalless first half, the Harambee Stars increased their tempo to score an all-important goal in the final quarter. – By Madellene Kalunda.
Elvis Rupia scored the only goal to hand Kenya a 1-0 win over South Sudan in an international friendly at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
David Owino came close for the Harambee Stars in the eighth minute when he received a good ball in the danger zone. The Bright Stars defenders failed to clear the danger and the KCB player narrowly missed the target.
Both teams looked settled and tried to move forward with every opportunity they had, but the Kenyans looked a little more threatening.
In the 13th minute, captain Peter Mabok had to be on his toes to ensure dangerman Rupia did not get an opportunity to shoot after being picked out by John Macharia.
In the 45th minute, Rupia had the best chance of the game until then when he received the ball 16 yards from the goal but he shot over the bar.
Despite a handful of chances created by the teams, none found the back of the net in the first half.
Danson Namsaka made a dash down the right flank to pick out a sprinting Rupia in the box and he made no mistake firing in with aplomb.
Until then the Stars had been dull failing to unlock the South Sudanese defence, with the long balls working in favour of the towering visitors.
The Stars will take on Tanzania in two warm-up matches, back-to-back on Monday and Thursday this week at Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums respectively as they up their preparations for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt and Togo.
Coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, in a bid to gauge the players in camp picked little-known starters in the first eleven with Adisa Omar starting between the sticks while Bonface Onyango, Johnstone Omurwa, Nahashon Alembi and Baraka Badi manned the back-four.
In midfield there was no room for Gor’s captain Kenneth Muguna who started on the bench but AFC Leopards talisman Elvis Rupia was picked to lead the line.
