COSAFA beckons after KPL hiatus where Thika United remain in pole position.

 

May 29, 2013 22:00 PM: Follow on twitter @MugeraHoward

Kenyan Midfielder Victor Mugabe (center) in action against Angola

It’s been for ever since I put pen to paper here. But, that’s about to change. I was out sight-seeing. The thought of me alienating myself from Kenyan football doesn’t seem logical. Never the less, sight-seeing is getting the better of me, so I’m back. And with that said I might need some getting used to. So bear with me, I’m the perfect “prodigal son”.

Onwards and forwards, I hear the Harambee Stars are getting ready for COSAFA and Thika United have nose-dived to the upper echelons of the league. Interestingly enough, if you have taken a closer look at the standings on the log, you will notice that Gor, AFC, Ulinzi, Tusker and other big guns haven’t really got going. And how would they? If at all the professionalism of some of these clubs comes into question, then a lot will be left to be desired. If it’s not Logarusic taking on Amrouche then it is the haphazard termination of a player’s contract, “shemeji-squabbles”, Ingwe TV and Supersport, poor displays in the “African Champions League”? Oh well…it doesn’t get mo Kenyan than that. Then again, it’s all we have, and it’s better than nothing. Plus, we share happy times in between J

COSAFA sure does have something to play for i.e. Rand 1,000, 000 prize money for the  winner,  first runners up and second runners up will bag R 0.5M and 0.25M in that order, and R 0.1M for the plate winners. Throw in similar bonuses for the top scorer and keeper… you get the point. So, let’s break down the tourney. 14 teams in total will battle for plaudits with Kenya and Equatorial Guinea as guest nations. There are two tiers of teams. The 6 seeded national sides that get automatic qualification for the quarters, and the remaining 8 that will face off in two groups of 4 teams each.

Matters Kenya…Stars have been pooled in Group B alongside Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. The tourney kicks off on 6^th– 20^th July with 3 venues at; Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe.  With adequate preparation we won’t be on the back foot. So ‘cliché’ should not be a common lingo this time. It’s not cool to have players on 3000/= daily allowance considering the accommodation and meal costs for such a tourney. Believe that. FYI, the ‘MbaoforBao’ and ‘FriendsofHarambeeStars” are good initiatives to get the ball rolling. And Logarusic should keep his Gor Mahia nose out of Harambee Stars’ business.

Amrouche certainly doesn’t poke his nose everywhere, At least, not yet. But the hardest bit of business is minding your own though.

Ohoooo….I forgot. I just joined the KPL fantasy premier league. Of course I barely know some names but, it’s a start. You folks should too. After all, that’s fantasy football, in-the-254.