 We're still here on the touchline on Y-2-5-4 where we are still discussing matters of football and now we jump gears and talk about everything that is happening in the Africa Cup of Nations. Remember, the showpiece will be kicking off in Egypt next Friday, that is the 19th of July, all the way to the 21st of June to July. Sorry for that confusion there on the Africa Cup of Nations. I'm happy because KBC Channel 1 will be the only free-to-air broadcaster of the Africa Cup of Nations. So if you want all the 52 matches, KBC Channel 1 is where you'll be finding those matches and then Y-2-5-4 will be giving you all the highlights and all the matches in repeat as they happen. So if you watch the live match on KBC Channel 1, be sure the repeat of that match will be on Y-2-5-4 and all the highlights of the 52 matches of the Africa Cup of Nations Now we are going to talk about the Africa Cup of Nations and Kenya for the very first time in 15 years since 2004 is in the Africa Cup of Nations. Joining us here to talk about this conversation right now is Ronald Okot is the founder and CEO of Ronald Okot Sports Management. He is here to talk to us about the Afqon and our preparedness to play in this showpiece. Zaxo Guda is still here with us and is with this book away from victory and we are done with the book itself but we are still talking about the Africa Cup of Nations and those are some of the moments he has captured in this book and we have got Nairobi City Stars player also currently Idi Shikanda here with us to talk about the Africa Cup of Nations. Let's go ahead and talk about our preparedness for the match. Ronald we are playing DR Congo this evening at 7pm in Madrid. We played Madagascar 1-1-0 nice against DR Congo a team that is in the Africa Cup of Nations. Do you think we are ready for this showpiece the way we are going? Well I think Zaxo said that we are not ready but to me I think the team is more than ready because I watched the game against the game against Madagascar and I think the boys really played well. Even though to me probably we survived the scare because Madagascar they lost a penalty but to me it's been some good preparations that the Federation has accorded the boys and going into this match against that we are going to play tonight. I think to me we stand a better chance of maybe trying to now try to rub our shoulders with the big boys in the next maybe week or so. So this would be another big test for the boys and for the coach to know his first level. What about you Zaxo? We have been camping in France 18 days that we are supposed to be in France to prepare for this game. These are our second friendly tonight. How do you think it will pan out? First of all I don't think the friendly will be shown live for those guys who asked where they might want to watch the friendly. It won't be live because you see at this young child the coach wants to hide their game. And as Ronald said, Minye has already known what theme he will play against Algeria. Right now what he is trying to do is to get players who can give him the edge should plan a fail. So basically the game against the Archongos but the result is about having players who can be ready physically and mentally for the Algeria game. Main injury is in our squad ED. We've got Brian Mandela leaving through injury. Christine Bambazoldo left through injury and two players were dropped and that is Anthony Akumu and Clifton Mihezo. The remaining 23 players must go in defense. Are we good enough? Yeah I think we are good. Look at Filiu Manotena. He has been outstanding in the league matches. That is for Gorma Yassid. Look at Joshua Onyango. He has been outstanding even in the qualifiers. So look at Musa Muamed, Abu Dumaar. I think these are the guys who have been featured in all the qualifiers to the Afghans. So the back line is for Coach Sebastian Minye to just decide who will start and who will back up the others. Do you think it's a big loss not having Brian Mandela in that team? Yeah of course it's a big loss for a coach like Sebastian Minye timing that he had prepared his mind to fill Brian Mandela in his first 11. Timing that for the Madagascar friendly we are not supposed to be told that this is the starting line but we are just from the look of the things that you are there to see Brian Mandela was going to start the match him to partnership with Musa Muamed. So I think it's a difficult situation for Sebastian Minye to pick whoever will replace Brian Mandela in the back line. What's a big one for us there. Which player do you think deserved to be in this team but was not included in the team? You can't say a player deserves to be in the team that's something that the coach decides. You see as fans you will always have players to be in the team but if Minye fails the players he has in the team will do what he wants to do. You see what people understand is club football and national team football is a totally different ball game. If a coach feels like this guy won't get into my system then there's no reason why you people should shout that Jesse Were for example because I want to touch on the Jesse Were a bit. During the trainings that we visit every time we go Minye will say is one guy who he knows the attacking front they're not that well in the attacking front. So we need players attacking front who can help track back but for Jesse Were is one guy who will just wait for those supplies and bang balls. If Jesse Were can get a team that supplies balls then that's one person you won't want to miss in a team. But because Jesse Were doesn't track back and someone like Masoodu will do a bit of this tidy work that's why he normally picked Mutamba in the previous games because of the work rate. So I won't say anyone deserves to win the team or not. If the coach feels that those are the right full players then so be it. What a performance, that's what they say. Good one for Razda. That much tonight. Could you give it a skull in between DRC? That's a tough one. I think for tonight it's not about the results. It's about trying to monitor the boys and see who's fit enough, who's good enough to start in the Afghans. So to me tonight it won't be so much about results. In respect of whether DRC wins or maybe we win or maybe get a draw it will be all about monitoring the players. And if I can quickly I don't know what Zach has said. I think Zach is right. I've been monitoring the coach for a while and I think we're trying to see the type of player that he likes to play up front. I mean he likes waka holics. He talks about why Wanga was left in the provisional squad and they picked Jonah Vire, my teammate. I'm a witness. I know how Jonah Vire works. He's a really hard work. He can track back, he can hustle the defenders, he can go back, he can defend, he can run forward, he can attack, he can hold the play. And if you look at the way Masood plays, I think Masood plays the same way. They just bullies on the ball and off the ball. So to me I think coach has been looking for a type of player who can play up front, who can bully the defenders at the same time, who can come back and track. And look at the way we've been playing with the Lunga, playing at the launch track at the centre forward. We'll really need a lot of pace and power at the flanks so that at least the delivery, so maybe the delivery to a Lunga can be perfect. And you know, with those one or non situations again, we can always count on the Lunga. Well, the game will be today at 7pm in Madrid. That will be Kenya versus DR Congo. But before the game, we had a chance to talk to these coaches. And these were they sent to us from Paris ahead of these games. Bastian Minye, the coach, Victor Wanyama, the captain and Francis Cajata, our Kenyan midfielder in Paris. Any risk with Musa tomorrow? So we will play without Ryan and Musa. But I told you, when you have a bad luck, it's every time an opportunity also to have a new answer. It was the case for the game against Ghana without my captain. And at this time we found the solution. We will see tomorrow but one time again the priority is Algeria. We need to continue to learn with this competition but we are not still in the top in Africa. We are on the way. FIFA ranking and Africa ranking can explain it. It's sure we are maybe around 25 in Africa today. But it's not a reason to stop the game. We want to continue. Since one year the players gave me every time a good surprise and we need to continue like it. The morale in the camp has been fantastic. We have a very good group and come tomorrow we just want to compete. We want to give our best on that game even if it's friendly. And then we will see the outcome. We want to perform well, we want to give our best. We want to go to every game and perform better. We want to give our all to get the positive results. And also I want to urge all the Kenyans supporters if they can travel and support the team. And also in the back home just get behind the team and support the team. We want to keep our hearts and minds strong. We want to motivate the players to continue in the game. We will continue playing this game next year. We don't want to be in the group but we want to show our presence and support to the team. So we are ready to play this game next year. We want to give our best on the game. We want to give our morale and make our preparations more friendly. Na najiwa iti game ita kwa po udo, atwezu wa darau, but na najiwa zi na team bado iko ridikilem ta kwa ridina. Well, Coach, Sebastian Mene, there, Victor Wanyama and Frances Cajata talking about the upcoming gamers they prepare ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. Ronald, the Africa Cup of Nations is finally here and Kenya will be participating in the show piece. We'll let it be a star track kind of moment getting onto the Africa Cup of Nations because the teams we played with in 2004 have gone a major milestone considering where Kenya is at the moment. Teams like Tunisia, teams like Mali, teams like Bukina Faso, they have gone way far ahead more than Kenya. Will Kenya be star track going into this competition? Well, I don't think it will be star track because we also have a star in our team, we also have Victor Nyama. I mean, we don't have many Africans playing in the EPL and EPL is one of the best leagues. So, to me, the boys, I think, they are professional enough to know the job that is taking them there. And even though it can be said that you qualify as a fluke because of Sierra Leone's woos and all that, but you know, in football it doesn't matter whether you play ugly or you win ugly or maybe you qualify in an ugly way, the matter of the fact is you've qualified at the end of the day. And to me, there's no better chance that... There's no better time that we stand a better chance to show the world and to show the continent what we too can produce. Because for a long time, when we talk to Nigerians, they say Kenyans are only good at athletics. They only know Kenya about athletics and maybe rugby a bit. And I think there's a better time for us to announce ourselves in the biggest stage and that's the Afghan. And to me, I think they're braced and ready for the job that is waiting for them. Zax, you wrote about the federation in your book. It's a major part in your book talking about the federation, the wrangles and everything that they have had. But this time round, what will you give the federation on what they have done to this team? I think so many people mostly have not read the books because of my stand on topical issues. I've had this notion that maybe I'm against the federation. When actually in this book, there's no entity that have placed like the federation. You can't wash away what Nick Mundo has done in Marta's organization. You got to give it to him. We've never had such a kind of thing. Like a two-week camp in France, guys are all kitted. They are bonus as a coming on time. These are the little things that players need. The government is also coming in. The government is also chipping in. These are the little things that the players need to boost their morale in the game. So if that aspect is sorted the way Ronald said, then it's now up to them to give us the show that every other person requires. You remember guys asking why so-and-so is in the team and so-and-so is in the team. So it's up to the players to prove to the court that you gave me this chance. It's my time to prove this. And this is the reason why so-and-so didn't make it here. On the striking thing, I don't think we'll have a problem with that because when you look at a player like Feli Monantino, the way he said, this is someone who has been in the calf for the past two seasons. Josh is the same. And then you look at players like Kwenyama, players like, I think, Akina Teddy. These are players who have completed with some of the best in Africa. And some of these best players are like, when you watch the kumu, the defender, he tells you when he was in the PSL, he featured with guys like Shabalala, Pesitao. See Pesitao is someone who's just gone from the PSL to EPL in Belgium. This is someone we'll see again, then he'll just say this is someone I've played with against before. So why should I be afraid of this guy when I'm tackling him before? So it's just the same something. I don't think we'll have a problem with the stage. Yeah, plus remember the game against Ghana? I mean, Pate asked for Dennis Udiambo's… No, just… Dennis Udiambo is a local player. I mean, so I don't think that would be an issue. Pate himself revealed that this guy is good enough. He is the moralist, exactly. But when we talk about the federation, this is the first time that we have had a federation that has come with age groups and so for the national team. We have got the under 13, we've got the under 15, under 17, under 23 and the national team. Are you seeing a good future for us? Because now after this generation of players, we have got to see another good generation coming up of players. Definitely yes, Robert, because it's a way to success because we have those structures and we've been lacking so much such structures since the reign of Uncle Samnewea. We've never had such kinds, but here comes Nick Mwendoa. He has put all the structures even though he hasn't worked all, he hasn't exhausted all the promises he made. But at least we are seeing the under 13 elite league. Myself, I do witness the leagues those kids are playing. So it's a good structure and all over the world it has been happening. Go to Europe, go to other neighbouring countries, they have all the structures. Look at, I'll give you the example of our neighbouring country, Tanzania, now their league is over, now they are under 20s are playing their league now. That's a very good structure because they are using their youth under 20 boys, they are using them to feed their senior teams. So at least Nick Mwendoa could us for that. Just to add on what that guy said, you see in Tanzania in this book, I think at the essence of academies. If you look at that Tanzanian team right now in Afkan, there are eight players who graduated from the Azam academy that are currently in the national team. So I will tell you if you are going to have a youth structure that works, then we won't be having problems in fishing players from other countries in the name of these guys in Kenya. I mean that weighing issue won't be there. When you have ready made talents ready for the market, then just pick guys from the academy and just get in the league and in the national team. It helps a lot in those established leagues. Well, football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendoa is also in Paris with the team as the team is preparing to play in Egypt. He also had an interview there. Let's hear what he had to say from France. Alright, my director will be looking for that one, we'll be playing it a little later in, okay, let's play it. We are heading to three weeks completion of three weeks of training. Tomorrow is our second and final friendly against DRC in Madrid. We have been here so for three weeks. We promise that we will do this and we have pulled all stops together is done. I am very encouraged by the work we have done. The team has done a fantastic job. I have been here myself for this period of time and I can only say that I wish we had this in Kenya. It's different. The approach is different. The tools are different. The camp has exceeded my expectations by being here. And we have been locked away one hour from Paris without distractions. I think no player has left the camp since we played Madagascar. And so I'm very encouraged by the work we have done and what we set out to do for these players and for Kenya in terms of preparation. Once we play DR Congo tomorrow, I am glad that we will have done and got in the job done to the details that we really wanted to get done. We have given the coach and the players everything they ever asked for and more. We have pulled all stops to make sure that that is done. I can only say that now it's upon them to get a job done. So I want to set a record straight. When we left Kenya, every player got $2,500. That was also unprecedented because we paid them before and we promised Kenyans that when the coach releases his final 23 squad, we will pay the $5,000 to make it a total of $7,000. And I can tell Kenyans again that yesterday, all players and the bench were paid all money once again in advance of $5,000 yesterday went to the players. So we paid $7,500 in allowances so we do not owe anyone. In advance before even getting the cup of nations, we have made the payments, we have closed. And that's why you see there is no story about money anymore. There is nothing to discuss regarding money. The preparation has been super. They have got their kit, they have got their medical equipment, they have the support staff around with them. They have a fantastic facility that you can dream of. Portugal was here before they won the Euro in 2017. So can you imagine our team staying in the same facility at Portugal Stadium? This is unprecedented stuff. This has never happened in Kenyan football. We have given them every little tool they have asked for. We have added the number of support staff they wanted. And we even brought a chef for them to make sure that they have a Kenyan touch in the food that they asked for. We cannot be 100% but this that we have done is unprecedented. In my administration, we promise Kenyans that we shall do this and I'm glad the team has done it. And I want to tell Kenyans today that I have been here myself throughout. I have attended almost each and every training and I have seen the team evolve with the difficulties and challenges we have had by players needing to come in in time and having to make quick decisions to make sure it's done. We thank government for what they did for us. But now it's been our turn to show government this is what we have been talking about. The CS has been here. She has seen this facility, she has seen the work we have done. I think every Kenyan is enthusiastic now but as opposed to before when we kept saying if the federation doesn't do this, doesn't do that now the ball is in the players and the coaches' coats. They have all the support they need including the little most you can ask for to deliver a fantastic afkul for us. I have a good feeling about this afkul. Next week we leave on Tuesday, we dock in Cairo on Tuesday and for another four days we prepare for the final leg of these finals in preparation to play Algeria on 23rd June at 10 p.m. in the night and I want to tell Kenyans that we have done the best. Let us win by doing the best and even though we lost, let us lose no win that we gave these kids and these boys all they deserve, we paid them, we kitted them, we fed them, we paid for their flights, we made sure they are comfortable and whatever the coach wanted which has never happened in Kenyan history whatever he wanted, we have delivered and I have been there personally to make sure that is done. It's important for Kenyans to know this because we have been, there has been questions around administration of sport in Kenya and I personally want to show that it can be done and it is being done and we are sharing every day everything that we do to say that this has never been done before in any sport. We want Kenya to follow this example now of openness, of directness, of making sure that the athletes are taken care of in the right way and making sure that they come number one and making sure that whenever our coach says this is how I want to win then we can question the coach by giving the coach what he needs and by making sure that we are no longer discussing the mundane small things that have rocked Kenya. We are not there yet, our budget is still too low, we do not have money for bonuses that they are going to win but you know those are bonuses. Kenya will decide the president make a decision what to give the players when they win as that when they do and I have told them that they can win this cup. They can win this Afghan and if they win this Afghan, Kenya will turn around for them. Kenya, I know if they win this Kenyans will show up for them and do something big for their lives to change their lives forever and we have players who are doing this all these players are doing this for the first time as I am doing it for the first time and I think you can tell Kenyans to look forward to it but whatever happens we have exceeded our expectations we want to come back to go to Chan in January in Kamehru and we want to go back to Afghan again in 2021 so that we are no longer those that just appear once and disappear we want to continue consistently preparing a team in the right way and hopefully the results come out of the way and that way then we can grow Kenyan football and grow the players because if they win then more clubs look into Kenya more players play abroad there are bigger pool of players to compete at the highest level which is what West Africa has done and we want to make sure that we can do better than them so we agreed that there are two paths of monies there is what we agreed to pay each player at every stage $2,500 for being in the 27th squad four players were released they got $2,500 paid, finished then there is what they were to get as they head into Cairo which was $5,000 these are allowances fixed amounts that we agreed with the coach and the players then now there is when they win a game every nation in Africa whenever a team wins a game so we agreed a certain structure with them and said that's what they are going to get but those are bonuses we do not have that money we have asked and explained to the ministry and the government and our sponsors that we don't have that money and we have explained to the players that money will not be available immediately in Cairo but as we play in that tournament the more they win the higher the chances we have of paying them more I can tell you if they go to the finals they will win themselves $1.2 million $120 million Kenyan shillings if they got there and if they get to the final because we will be paid money by AFKON we will not need any money from any other source we shall pay them by what we have won if we do not get there then we will need help from other sponsors but I want to tell Kenyans that every little thing we agreed has been done for the first time in a major tournament we did it for the girls in 2016 we have now done it for the boys Fulbo Kenyan Federation president Nick Muenda speaking in Paris ahead of the DRC Congo tonight and also as the team prepares for the Africa Cup of Nations that will be played in Egypt later the big question Ronald will be what are your expectations from Harambia Stars when they head on to Egypt I expect a good show definitely because they have had the best preparations I have ever seen according to the national team a camp in France the bonus has been paid just like Zak said we have a new kid the whole nation is behind us we have every reason to go there and give a performance of a lifetime to me I expect nothing short of a good performance even though they have been talks of maybe we can get to the quarters to me that is still a huge feat we can just go there and take one match at a time maybe try and get the best result we can at most maybe let us try and get two draws and then we die with Tanzania Tanzania is also thinking like that Tanzania is also thinking the same so I think that is only team will get the three points but for these other ones we must be tactical enough in order to approach these two teams because I mean those are the giants of Africa people are talking about Tanzania we have got Sengo we have got Algeria but the question is we have never gone past the group stage but this time around 24 team tournament 16 teams to the knockout stage do you see a number of stars making on to the knockout stages putting in order that we are going to be maybe a surprise package in the group strategies will work will work because the first match we were playing Algeria probably it's a hard match it's a very competitive match the next match will be Senegal then the last match Tanzania so I think if we pick two draws and then like yes we die with Tanzania it will be better at least so we have to make sure that we don't lose the first match the second match we go for the second one is Tanzania then the third exactly so I think we have a blended squad mixed with young and experienced players so actually we are looking forward to get good results against all those big teams Zak, for the old shop is now what you will be expecting because it's a big one Egypt have won it a record 7 times but they are home they have got the likes of Mo Salah Senegal is coming there with some of the best players Kulibali, Sadio Mane what you will be expecting from the shop is itself in the football matters for the entire shop is I think there are a lot of surprise packages you see for a team to make it to Afghan that would mean it's a good team but definitely in every tournament they are favourites I don't know why people are ravishing off Morocco there is one Afghan with 2 teams Zambia and Ivory Coast this is someone that you people should not be taking lightly defensively he has the players in attack he has the players that he requires he knows what African football entails I will pick them as one of the favourites with Egypt as the host nation Senegal with their star starred team is another team to watch though I don't think Cameroon will do that well because of their culture I don't think Sidoff understands African football and the players he has in store now that even Abu Bakar did make this code so I think it's one team that might struggle that's Cameroon with Ghana might struggle those are the groups as we heard going to the African and Ronald when you look at those group you're talking about Clarence Sidoff and Ghana that is not going to perform my question was going to be the tradition of powerhouses African football do give them a chance because Ivory Coast we've got Ghana we've got Egypt Nigeria Maso Nigeria always coming back they were not in the last edition in fact for Nigeria they are going to prove I mean they are not in the last edition and this edition I think we even saw Obi Miquel coming back from retirement I think they mean business and to me I think in my own opinion I think we'll definitely see the major players going all the way up to the finals because in the first the knockout stages I think the boys will be sent home and I'm just hoping that Kenya won't be a market the boys being sent home early but generally I think I expect to see the big names Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria Camerooni I'm also giving Camerooni a chance and we'll just wait to see they will be a shocker because we've got new teams coming on to the Africa Pugnations for the first time we've got Burundi, we've got Mauritania and Madagascar may they not shock some teams here and there in the African continent definitely we expect a lot from those new camers we've seen a surprise package back in 2015 where Camerooni where Zambia work around the champions of that edition so they had no one they had their captain Christopher Katongo who was initially playing for a club in Cyprus so I think this time the big guns will not give in the big guns will not give any chance will not let anyone again do wonders before them but the European players also who are coming to play in the Africa Cup we can't base the players the likes of Mo Salah Sadio Marez Marez is also there Kulibal is also there what kind of impact will they have in their teams these players will perform anyway whether it's a tournament it's a qualification process you expect them to give a performance when you're talking about people like Mo Salah if someone who's been giving performance the same way is giving at Liverpool but again you see this another but players see as a platform to market themselves someone like Marez hasn't been happy at Man City because of lack of playing time so he wants to show the entire world what he can do in this continent and that again might work for these underdogs these underdogs not most of them in the tournament to win it or something but a few players that see these as a platform to market themselves and be ready for the markets but to favor teams like Kenya you see there's a lack of filimonote who might want to have a professional career and guys who've been playing locally this is the time they see that they have to perform to realize their dream of playing professionally I doubt if the lack of Mo Salah the lack of money will replicate the same form they've been giving in the leagues because African football is another different ball game altogether it's so physical to see maybe some of our stars maybe they don't shine when they come to play for the country because I mean it's so physical and most of this maybe let me say the minos the mino teams, the players they always want to make a name with you so I don't think they'll be finding it easy when they're playing against some of these teams I hope they don't perform because if they don't perform then we stand a chance here my only worry is if they perform then we don't stand a chance if they have to fail to perform if they have to perform when we are up against Senegal then we are in the next round because you can remember what Hatsu did to Pilewa at the last march maybe Robert if I had something you gentlemen don't write of Tanzania because I've seen a majority of their players, I know them I've met with them sometimes they were in the senior team when I was in the Azamanda 20 academy so the likes of Agremoris, Erastonyoni in the back line we have John Boko in the front line we have Mbuana Samata was the best player in the Belgium League we have Thomas Ulimuangu who plays trade in Algeria so I think these are blended squad that have vast experience with Emmanuel Ammonique I don't think he will he's the coach so I don't think it will be thank you gentlemen for coming here to the touch line Edie Shikanda who plays for Nairobi City Stars our sports journalist and remember to buy his book away from victory you can go to Naruk Book Club and you can get that book there for a thousand shillings and then we have got Ronald Okot also of the Ro Sports Management I'm Robert Osor and on behalf of everybody who managed to bring the touch line to you we say good afternoon