KENYA looked extremely meticulous when beating Somalia 6-0 in Cecafa Under-20 Championship in Asmara on Thursday, assuming the stature of one of the clear favourites to win this edition’s title.

Coach Vince Ombiji had said in a pre-match interview that the Kenyans would revenge a recent humiliation by Somalia, of the Kenya Under-17 side in an African Championship qualifying tie. Somalia shocked Kenya 2-0 in Djibouti before tying 0-0 in Naivasha, Kenya, for the 2-0 passage to the next round.

The Kenyan management also backed off from the intention to send home Paul Were, the young talented Tusker FC forward who had ran into trouble here because of indiscipline.

Were only stuck around in Asmara because there was no flight to send him home until Saturday. Meanwhile the Kenyan camp reported that since Monday, Were had been “completely remorseful.”

Coach Ombiji and his assistant Rashid Hamisi had earlier narrated how Were had been a bad influence in the team’s camp. After being sanctioned, Were had been ostracised and not allowed to train with the team.

“He has already suffered enough. None of his mates seem to want to have a conversation with him, even though we have not put a ban. The punishment will include withholding the stipend owed to him for the days he will serve the suspension,” said Hamisi.

Against Somalia, Were was not started and he came off the bench in the 73rd minute when Kenya were already 3-0 up. He responded with a wonderful touch, scoring the fourth goal from a 30-metre left foot strike in 78th minute. He them provided a magnificent assist, squaring the ball from the right flank to Thika United’s Moses Arita to score his second goal in the 90th minute.

Gor Mahia forward Duncan Owiti had opened the scoring for Kenya in the 17th minute easily hitting the ball crossed from the right by Victor Majid.

Robert Muigai, the KCB midfield man made it 2-0 hitting from 25 metres in the 38th minute.

Somalia’s slim opportunities in the first half were a third minute long range attempt by Hassan Ali, for the first taste of action by Kenya ‘keeper Caleb Otieno Adola. In the 43rd minute Adola had to push round the right upright, for a corner, a shot by Abdullahi Yusuf.

Arita scored the first of two for the night in the 67th minute tapping easily into an empty net to make it 3-0 when a perfect Kenyan move beat the Somali offside trap.

Muigai was a having an inspiring game in midfield and when he found space in the 70th minute, he fired from 20 metres to beat Somalia ‘keeper Abdullahi Nur Ali for 4-0.

Then Were injected his immense capabilities into the unstoppable Kenyans, his touch bringing about the final two goals.

“I hope we shall have even better performances in our remaining [Group “B”] matches [v Tanzania on Saturday and v Eritrea on Monday],” said coach Ombiji.

“Somalia were by no means a pushover. We treated them with respect and that is why we got a good result. Don’t forget their country eliminated our Under-17s from the African qualifiers [2-0 in Djibouti and 0-0 in Nairobi; 2-0 aggregate].

“I had promised everyone revenge over that. We had to do that. Now a few more people will be paying attention to us.”

There was a huge sigh of relief from Were when commenting on the sanctions placed on him by the management.

“I have learnt a lot in these past few days. I am deeply sorry and acknowledge that my indiscipline hurt the team. The coaches have acted as father-figures to me and I promise not to let them down again.

“I am very happy they have forgiven me. I will work hard every day to achieve my goal to be a top level professional footballer.

“After being allowed to play in this game, now I am settled; what happened earlier is in the past. There will be a new Paul Were,” he said.

Source: www.cecafa.net