Kenya Harambee Stars have withdrawn from the Four-Nation Pre-Chan tournament that was scheduled to kick off on Monday July 21.
The tournament, supposed to take place in Arusha, Tanzania had hosts Tanzania, Uganda and defending CHAN champions Kenya.
The Kenyan team was already in Arusha having left Nairobi on Saturday.
“The Kenya Football Federation wishes to inform the general public that he Harambee Stars have withdrawn from CECAFA Four Nations Tournament in Tanzania,” read part of the statement from FKF.
“The decision has been made following recommendations and advice from the team’s technical bench, led by Head Coach Benni McCarthy, after a thorough assessment of the prevailing conditions which were deemed unsustainable for team’s participation and overall preparations.
“The decision has been made following recommendations and advice from the team’s technical bench, led by Head Coach Benni McCarthy, after a thorough assessment of the prevailing conditions which were deemed unsustainable for team’s participation and overall preparations.”
“The decision has been made following recommendations and advice from the team’s technical bench, led by Head Coach Benni McCarthy, after a thorough assessment of the prevailing conditions which were deemed unsustainable for team’s participation and overall preparations.”
More to follow…
This could be a sign of disorganisation by Kenya.
A pre-tournament can be drain on the team and players. The coaches and management should be aware and alert to that problem. Remember France in the 2002 World Cup had their best player hurt in a tough friendly before the tournament, then got knocked out after three games. There is a reason Brazil plays weak teams before major tournaments.
Remember when FUFA worked hard to provid the Cranes team with multiple friendlies before AFCON. Great! Except for one problem. Too many friendlies can be a bad thing. Micho and the other coaches did not protect the team from all those friendlies. FUFA guys probably didn’t know but Micho and the coaches should have known and limited those games. As it were the players started saving themselves in the friendlies and played AFCON games with the same cautious mindset. It is not easy to turn it on and off at will.
Those who played hard in all the many friendlies were tired at AFCON.
I hope the Uganda coaches are protect the players at this pre-tournament. But not too much.