Kenya Hammer Black Stars In Accra

....."50-year-old" Ansah Was In The Post
The senior national team, Black Stars was on Friday whipped 3-1 by Kenya's unsettled national soccer team, Harambee Stars, in a special friendly game played at the nations Wembley, Accra Sports Stadium.

The game, which forms part of the team's preparation towards their crucial Cup of Nations tie against the Cranes of Uganda at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday June 22, saw the Kenyans scoring all their three goals in the first half.

The Harambee lads, who are in transit for a similar assignment in Togo next weekend dominated play throughout the half with simple but purposeful football that saw the Stars chasing their own shadows.

Robert Mambo and Dennis Oliech were the destroyers-in-chief for the kenyans, who have been labouring through their preparations for Saturday's Africa Nations Cup Group Five qualifier against Togo with the thinnest of budgets in their training camp here.

Kenya's first goal in this spectacular friendly for Jacob Mulee's boys came in the 18th minute through one of Mambo's traditional headers.

Before the Black Stars could come down to earth, Oliech added the second in the 38th minute after a powering home a low drive following great midfield play by John Muiruri and Titus Mulama.

Harambee Stars were three goals for the good at half-time after Mambo pounced on Oliech's pass to score the third in the 44th minute of the match that left Ghanaians in shock.

Eddy Ansah (pictured), in post for the Stars, who had a bad afternoon did little to save the sinking image of the Stars in all the goals he conceded.

From recess, Coach Bukhard Ziese overhauled the team with countless substitution but that could hardly have any impact on the game.

At a time the Stars attack was virtually non-existent. Skipper Stephen Appaih who entertained the partisan fans present scored the consolation goal for his side in the 65th minutes through a well set-up free-kick.

Inspired by the goal, the team pushed forward for more goals but to no avail.

Kenya's coach Mulee said after the match that he was happy with the way his boys played.

"This is a great boost before the Togo game. If Paul Oyuga and John Baraza were here, would would have been much more confident but this result without them is a major boost."

Oyuga (who plays for Swedish club Orebro) and Baraza (Sylvia, Sweden) are expected to link up with the team before the trip to Lome.

Last night, the full-strength Ghana fielded their top professionals in camp here who include Appiah (Brescia, Italy), Daniel Edusei (Eagaleo, Greece), Peter Ofori Quaye (Olympiakos, Greece), Baffour Gyan (Liberec, Czech Republic), Godfred Aduobe (Hansa Rostock, Germany), Samuel Johnson (Fernerbahce Istanbul, Turkey), John Paintsil (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel), Imoro Lukman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Anthony Obodai (Germinal Berschot, Belgium), Lawrence Aidoo (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany) and Derek Boateng (Panathianaikos, Grecee).

Harambee Stars will play another friendly against either Asante Kotoko or Obuasi Goldfields, the top Ghanaian clubs.