At the end of this awe-inspiring, implausible and out of this world show by Kenyan national football team Harambee Stars, head coach Benni McCarthy punched the air in delight.
On Sunday night inside the magnificent Kasarani Stadium, the patriots made Kenyans proud. Real loyalists this lot.
Players linked arms at every corner of the slightly wet venue due to the showers that fell as blessings on Sunday afternoon. It was a job well-done.
They had just completed a historic victory, defeating Zambia 1-0 to continue with their imposing show in so many years.
Their run at this year’s African Nations Championships (Chan) 2024 has been short of a fairytale.
Grouped together with two-time champions Morocco, Angola, DR Congo and Zambia, few gave the gallant Kenyans any meaningful chance of making it out of that Group A unscathed.
But Sunday afternoon’s triumph was significant as it was sweet and well-earned. One had the impression that this was the instant South African tactician had been aiming to achieve since he joined Stars’ bench in March.
On that Sunday afternoon, after several failed attempts, Harambee Stars showed character, togetherness and barely lacked in passion when going forward. A constellation of real stars.
Every constituent for a marvelous fixture was there for all to witness. Every last bit of what they wanted to accomplish, they did. Every single aspect of an almost perfect match was obvious. A happy ending.
Kenya now have something to play for when they meet Madagascar for their quarterfinal date on Friday. They will have another chance to go into history books, only that this time, they know what’s at stake; more millions and more glory.
This is where real football begins; the knockout stages. There’ll be no room for any errors. You blink, you lose.
It could be a perfect outing for the Kenyan team. It should be a perfect ending too. All football fans have been starved off such moments. Quite hard to come by. But here we are.
Playing at this level is not for your typical or humdrum play and McCarthy will no doubt instruct his horde to battle to the end like real combatants.
That explains why at the end of their Zambia tie, he as were many Kenyan inside Kasarani Stadium, seemed lost in the moment.
McCarthy is a perfectionist, almost. His attention to detail comes close to none.
When pacing up and down the touchline under his uncalculated steps as he issued endless instructions to his boys, McCarthy showed a man full of optimism and hope.
The South African coach is a man full of acumen. It seems as if he was tailor-made for this job.
To most members of his playing unit, he is the embodiment of a virtuous father. He always jokes when it’s time to and remains firm when things don’t go according to plan.
When looking at the mercurial coach, he really yearns for Chan glory. You can see it; you can feel it.
Truly, he does. His eyes tell it all. His hunger for more distinction and excellence is apparent. It’s so profound, you can feel it.
He has achieved what most his predecessors only dreamt of; self-glory. He has somewhat ticked that off his to-do list. So far, he seems to be the man meant for the job.
He makes coaching Harambee Stars seem so easy to a fault. Kenya’s performance after four rounds of matches has been a virtuoso show, no doubt.
Theirs hasn’t been just pure gallantry, but one that would leave many in a daze. It was a repositioning of how football ought to be. Touch and go.
So, this is where real battle begins for Harambee Stars.
They will now spend more days to come plotting on how to gallop towards the coveted prize.
The victories no doubt saved Kenyans from what would have been a charade for the die-hard home fans. They had begun with skepticism, but transformed it into optimism, it all seemed satirical.
McCarthy wanted his team to hunt in a pack. He didn’t want to be the sole hunter as he strode up and down the touchline alone and desolate.
In the end, images of Kenyan players hugging and smiling will remain a constant reminder of how to compete at this level.
The expectancy on them was telling. It was obvious they were overwhelmed, but Harambee Stars together with their hopes, refused to be reduced to roving bystanders.
The Kenyans were spellbound with their rousing show. They were more gleaming and ingenious.
In the end, they were at liberty to believe that they merited victory and place into the last eight.
May real battle begin.
