Matthew Ottamax highlights areas of worry for Kenya ahead of Seychelles clash

Former Harambee Stars goalkeepers trainer Mathew Ottamax has raised concerns about the current state of the Kenyan national football team, citing a lack of confidence as a key factor in their recent defeat against Gabon.

The national team fell 2-1 to Gabon in their opening World Cup Qualifiers fixture at the Stade de Franceville, leaving fans disappointed and searching for answers.

In the intense match, Dennis Bouanga and Guelor Kanga found the back of the net for Gabon, securing a promising start for the Central African Nation.

Masoud Juma's first-half strike provided a glimmer of hope for Harambee Stars, but it ultimately proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal.

Ottamax, a respected figure in Kenyan football, did not mince his words when analyzing the team's performance and pointed out that the current crop of national team players appears to be lacking confidence, a sentiment that many fans share.

"Many fans are in pain, and it has reached a point where when we play in competitive football, we underperform. Let's players build on their confidence," Ottamax emphasized.

Ottamax further explained that during crucial moments in the game, the players seemed to lose concentration, attributing this lapse in focus to a lack of mental fortitude.

"If you look at recent international friendlies and the Gabon match, you can tell that psychologically, I can say that in the closing minutes of the match, our players are not mentally strong, and that is where they lose concentration," he added.

The pressure is now mounting on Harambee Stars as they prepare to face Seychelles on Monday, November 20, in a match that will take place in Ivory Coast.

Ottamax stressed the urgency of securing a victory in this upcoming fixture, especially considering Ivory Coast's recent win against Seychelles.

The former Gor Mahia goalkepeer noted that Seychelles, as the hosts, will be looking to measure themselves against Kenya, and a loss could further dent the team's confidence.

It is worth noting that the match against Gabon marked Kenya's return to competitive football after a hiatus imposed by FIFA.

The last competitive game for Harambee Stars was a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in 2021, which they won 2-1. 

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