Kenya v Angola: Four things we learnt at Nyayo

By Bismarck Mutahi1.Top players don't learn
The sending off of MacDonald Mariga for a second bookable offence brought back memories of how Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie was ordered to go for an early shower in the round of 16 Uefa Champions League match against Barcelona.
Many fans will argue the referees were wrong on both occasions, but the truth is, players will never learn. Mariga is an experienced player just like Van Persie and should have known a yellow card would come his way when he peeled off his shirt in celebration. His antics after the booking were uncalled for and he should have also known it amounts to dissenting by kicking the ball into the net after the referee had called for offside. Rules are rules and it does not matter if you are Mariga or Van Persie.
2. Origi back to his best
After injuring himself against Zimbabwe on June 14, 2009 at the Nyayo National Stadium many hoped Origi, the country’s safest pair of hands, would be back in good form and that prayer was answered on Saturday. Origi showed why he has been one of the top keepers in Norway and his display in goal on Saturday made Kenya win the match. Many will remember the goal line clearance by left back Dennis Odhiambo, but were it not for Origi’s fingers, Odhiambo would not have got to the ball. Origi also made several saves.
3. Midfield holding position still a problem
Since Tom Juma retired the person to sit in front of the back four seems to be Kenya’s Achilles Heel. Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno tried out Johanna Omollo in that role on Saturday before Mariga also tried playing in that position with little effect. We need to find a midfield destroyer who can combine his ball-winning skills and distribution, something that Victor Mugabe tried to do in the second half although he is not a ball winner but a good distributor. Maybe it is time ‘Zico’ tried out Sofapaka’s Titus Mulama in that role.
4. Fans and some scribes don’t understand rules
Fans and journalists alike either do not understand rules or they just pretend they don’t. To blame the referee for booking Mariga was wrong. He was following the rules and fans should know that kicking the ball after the whistle has been blown is a bookable offence and so is pulling off your shirt in celebration. Fans should also know that a referee is allowed to change his or her mind and can reverse a red card like Damaris Kimani did in the AFC v Karuturi match.