Kenya U23 team demonstrated massive improvement and exemplary hard work after registering impressive results on Saturday at Nyayo National stadium and came close to eliminating Botswana from All African Games qualifiers but bowed out on away goal rule despite spanking
Kenya U23 team (pictured above)
their opponents 4-1 in the return leg after a 3-0 loss in the first leg two weeks ago.
Coach Bobby Williamson believes the under 23 team which he has been watching closely for two months will form a huge chunk of the players he will call up for the African nations qualifiers.
“They have shown their ability and most of them who have been brilliant for the team will be considered for the African Nations Qualifiers camp which begins with a date against Ethiopia in June. But we must also strike a good balance the youth and experience”, said Williamson.
KOgalo forward Michael Olunga performance
The KOgalo forward Michael Olunga showed his soccer supremacy after scoring a hat-trick for the country, a move that clearly make the team to regret his absence in the first leg match one week ago, since better results would have been different for Kenya.
Olunga’s first goal that took Kenyan side by storm came in the 20th minute with a fine finish and greatly demoralized the visitors, and then a second in the 37th minute before completing his hat-trick in injury time. Before the first goal came, Olunga was behind most goals on target that were initiated by the home team against Botswana.
“We fought hard, but luck was not on our side- am happy to score the goals and it is a product of hard work and determination”, Olunga said.
Omaatla Kebatho then scored the equalizer for Botswana in the 22nd minute beating the Kenyan backline to score.
Bobby Williamson also hopes that the national football team Harambee stars can register such a performance in the CHAN as well as the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.