Former Tusker defender David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng’ has urged his fellow players to win tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier for Harambee Stars head coach Adel Amrouche.
Harambee Stars in training at the City Stadium. Photo credit michezoafrika.com
Ochieng’ said the coach has done a lot for the team and a win against Namibia tomorrow would be a good way to honour him.
“We should win it for Amrouche and the millions of our fans. The coach has been with us for a long time through tough situations giving his best and the best way to honour him is to beat Namibia for his sake and for the millions of fans who have supported us all through,” said Ochieng’.
Stars remain winless in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and will be chasing their first win against Namibia tomorrow.
The team is rooted at the bottom of the standings with just two points and could finish the qualifiers with a paltry five points.
The defender, who recently joined Al-Taawon of Saudi Arabia on a two-year deal, has, at the same time, pointed out that a win remains a must for Stars as this will help build a winning mentality among the players.
Winning mentality
“The match may not be significant for us in terms of qualification for the World Cup, but it is important for the players that we win so that we can develop a winning mentality which is crucial going forward,” the player pointed out.
He warned against expecting too much from him after his recent move, adding that he has just been at his new club for three weeks.
‘Cheche’ said he is happy with his new move and is enjoying the benefits of playing for a professional club.
“The biggest change I have witnessed is the quality of playing facilities. Even our own training ground is better than all the facilities I have ever played on in Kenya.
“I got a one bedroom furnished flat and a car to move around with. There is a lot of support from my fellow players and this has helped me blend in very well. Everything runs on time. It is a real professional environment.
“My biggest challenge is feeling homesick, but I have to deal with it by constantly keeping in touch with friends and family from home. The language barrier is also another challenge, but slowly and surely, I am getting used to it,” he said.
The player won the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) with Tusker last year and has been an integral part of the national team through the current qualifiers.
By Gilbert Wandera, The Standard
