Harambee Stars goalkeeper coach, Arnold Origi, has underscored the need for Kenya to compete in as many tournaments as possible, saying such competitions offer coaches an opportunity to build a strong team.
Speaking on Sunday after attending the team’s training session at M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika in readiness for Mapinduzi Cup, the former Kenyan international said such tournaments offer Kenya a good opportunity to build a strong team in readiness for the delayed 2024 African Nations Championships (Chan).
“Putting into consideration that we will play Chan tournament on home soil, winning the tournament will be really nice in terms of boosting the morale and confidence of the players, so we must prepare well. Mapinduzi Cup is one such avenue for us to prepare,” Origi said.
Mapinduzi Cup is a tournament organised by Zanzibar Football Federation to commemorate the Tanzanian archipelago’s Revolution Day which is marked annually on 12 January.
Kenya is among the countries that have confirmed participation in the tournament, which will take place in Zanzibar from January 3 to 25, 2025. The other participants are hosts Zanzibar Heroes, Uganda, Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars, and Burkina Faso.
Kenya will co-host the delayed 2024 Chan with neighbours Uganda and Tanzania from February 1 to 28, 2025. Chan is Africa’s second-tier national football competition reserved for home-based players.
Origi also said that Kenya’s triumph in the tournament would boost the players' morale and confidence heading into 2024 Chan.
However, he was quick to note that of importance for the team is to gel well since the tournament will bring together new players and coaches.
“The most important thing for us is that the team gels, because we have a new technical bench, new players coming into the team from different clubs, and different philosophies. Having such a tournament is a perfect opportunity for everybody to work together and know each other’s weakness and strong points, and to build communication with the ball," Origi said.
"Mapinduzi Cup will present a good opportunity for the team to become a solid side. Once Chan arrives, we should have put up a good side that can challenge for the title and beat anyone,” he added.
Origi, 41, played for Harambee Stars between 2005 and 2021.
Locally, he turned out for 2008 Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Mathare United, and 13-time Kenyan champions Tusker FC.
Origi played for several clubs abroad, including Norwegian sides Fredrikstad, Lillestrom Sportsklubb, and Sandnes Ulf.
At the same time, coach Francis Kimanzi, who is handling the team on an interim basis, has called up 37 players to camp for the tournament.
The team, which is a blend of youth and experience, entered residential training camp on Saturday.
Mathare United’s coach, John Kamau, and his Gor Mahia counterpart, Zedekiah Otieno, are serving as the assistant coaches.
Red-hot strikers Ryan Ogam (Tusker) and Francis Kahiro (KCB) are part of the team. Ogam leads the scorer’s chart in the FKF Premier League with 13 goals ahead of Kahiro who has scored eight goals.
“Today was our first session with quite a large squad. The goal is to test all the players, and we managed to do that while also introducing some tactics. Everyone will get a chance to show what they can do as we start building the team. While the focus is on the Mapinduzi Cup, the ultimate goal is to prepare a strong squad for Chan,” said Kimanzi.
