Stars coach Firat calls for patience as team returns home after losing to Iran

National football team Harambee Stars jetted back into the country from Iran yesterday where they lost 2-1 to the hosts in an international friendly in Tehran on Tuesday.

The team returned home a few minutes to midnight aboard Qatar Airways from Qatari capital Doha where they had made a stop-over from Tehran en-route to Nairobi. Harambee Stars thus failed to break the jinx of losing to Team Melli, six-times World Cup participants, who won 3-0 and 1-0 in 1997 and 2009 respectively in friendly matches in Tehran

Stars were quicker off the blocks with Qatar-based Michael Olunga putting them ahead in the 51st minute breaking the deadlock after a goalless first half.

Kenya doggedly held onto the lead before they finally cracked from a flurry of attacks by Iran which yielded an equalizer in the 76th minute when Mohammad Miherbi found an opening to poke home past goalkeeper Patrick Matasi.

Few moments before Mirhebi’s strike, Olunga misfired from the six-yard box after being teed off by Duke Abuya who had split open the Iranians defence from the centre of the pitch.

Stars defence line of Amos Nondi, Eric “Marcelo”Ouma, Brian Mandela and Joseph Okumu continued dithering which resulted into Iran scoring the winning goal in the 84th minute through Ramin Rezayien.

Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoei, who is on his second stint with the team, then made changes by introducing Milad Sarlale and Mehdi Torabi for Seyeh Mohammed and Afirezah Jahanbashi which added impetus in the team’s attack.

On his part, Stars coach Engin Firat introduced Kenneth Muguna, Alfred Scriven and Daniel Anyembe for Masoud Juma, Duke Abuya and Victor Omune in changes which had little impact.

In fact, it was Iran’a who nearly scored the third goal in the dying minutes when Torabi found himself with acres of space only to be denied by Matasi.

Speaking after the match, Firat said he was generally satisfied with the performance of most players despite the defeat.

“Kenyan football fans should not read too much into the result. We need time for these boys to post the desired results. It’s their first time to play together and I must say it’s a boon to have given their all against a very strong Iranian team,” said Firat.

The tactician reiterated that patience is paramount to give the team room to excel in the international stage.

“Of course, a lot of work needs to be done and I’m optimistic that in a year’s time, you will see a very strong Harambee Stars Players like Scriven (Alfred) and Daniel Anyembe) have just arrived from Europe and need more to adjust hence the patience I’m talking about,” said Firat.

After Stars’ Iran’s assignment, focus now shifts to the national Premier League and national women team Harambee Starlets who are gearing up for a friendly against Albania next month in Tirana.

The team under the tutelage of Godfrey Oduor will embark on residential training today in Kasarani ahead of the match.