Kenya’s Harambee Stars are set to face South Africa in a friendly match in Nairobi, marking the debut of Frenchman Henri Michel as the head coach of the Kenyan team. Michel expressed his eagerness for a positive start, stating, “It’s our first match, and we want to win it to start this adventure in the best possible way. I believe that the time we had to work was enough to have a great meeting.”
For his inaugural match, Henri Michel has called up 10 players who will be making their first appearances for the national team. Despite their lack of international experience, Michel is optimistic about the team’s performance. On the other side, Gordon Igesund, the South African coach, is also making adjustments to his squad following a friendly loss to Poland.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are using friendly matches to prepare for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), while Kenya, having been eliminated from the competition, is focusing on sharpening its skills for the resumption of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in March 2013.
The last encounter between the two teams took place in February 2011, where South Africa emerged victorious with a 2-0 win. The friendly match provides an opportunity for both teams to assess their strengths and strategies as they prepare for future competitions.
