Kenya intensify training as Zimbabwe arrive for soccer match

NAIROBI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's national soccer team arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday night ahead of the World Cup/Africa Nations Cup qualifier against hosts, Harambee Stars on Saturday.

The visitors jetted in as their opponents, Harambee Stars intensified training hoping to turn the tables again on Saturday.

The team captain Robert Mambo and French-based striker Dennis Oliech Oliech resumed training with the team on Wednesday.

Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi said he will stick with the team that beat Guinea's Syli Stars 2-0 when they host Zimbabwe.

Speaking after training late Wednesday, Kimanzi said he was satisfied with the team's performance.

"This is a winning team and you all saw how they played on Saturday against Guinea, why should I make changes now? I can't say we were 100 percent perfect during the Guinea match, but I believe all departments were impressive," said Kimanzi.

"I don't rate my team's performance according to departments, all I can say is that we played well, but allowed our opponents to penetrate on two occasions which should not have happened. Our performance against Guinea was better than against Namibia a week before and I believe we are getting better everyday. Zimbabwe willbe in problems on Saturday," he said.

Kenya’s Harambee stars truimph over Zimbabwe

Kenya on top of their group in 2010 WC / CAN qualifiers

Thirsting for tickets to the 2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations finals, Kenya’s Harambee Stars beat Zimbabwe 2-0 on Saturday to top the group standings with six points.

Kenya coach warns of a secret weapon against Zimbabwe team

Kenya’s needed win

Kenya’s Harambee Stars Tuesday intensified training in preparation for the 2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zimbabwe Saturday.

Three key players missing from Kenya squad

MacDonald Mariga dropped out of next 2010 WC / CAN qualifiers

Italy-based midfielder MacDonald Mariga and goalkeeper Arnold Origi are among the players left out of the Kenyan World Cup squad for their match against Zimbabwe this weekend.

Soccer World Cup vs Zimbabwe

The FIFA soccer World Cup, for which South Africa is to act as host in 2010. That may seem like a long way off, but South Africa is already investing huge amounts both financially and politically, for what is supposed to be its triumphal coming-out party. Maybe Zimbabwe should become to the South Africa-hosted World Cup what Tibet has been to the Beijing Olympics — the pungent albatross that spoils every press conference and mars every presentation with its insistent odor.

by Peter Godwin, author of “When a Crocodile Eats the Sun.”